Mediation is the process by which a neutral third party facilitates negotiations between parties. Its object is to assist the parties in reaching an agreement which is satisfactory, fair, and acceptable.

Mediation has several advantages over the traditional litigation process. Mediation presents a win / win situation rather than the win / lose result usually generated in an adverse court proceeding. This process is less costly to the parties and is conducted in a less formal, more comfortable setting. Mediation allows the parties to maintain control of the terms of the settlement of the dispute.

The goal of the Divorcing Parents Program is to assist parents in understanding the impact of divorce on their children, help to reduce conflict, and offer practical solutions to future problems. All parties filing for divorce with children under the age of 18 years are required to attend this program before the final divorce decree is entered.

No. The judge and the ADR Office will work together to determine if a case is appropriate for mediation. If significant violence has occurred during a relationship, or if a party cannot negotiate on an equal footing with the other, the case may not be appropriate for mediation.

Athens-Clarke County does pick up dead animals in the street or on the right of way. If the animal is not in the street or on the right of way, it is the property owner's responsibility to remove it. For dead animals in the right of way in the Urban Service District (inside the former Athens City limits) contact the Solid Waste Department at 706-613-3501. For dead animals in the right of way in the Rural Service District (outside the former Athens City limits) contact the Streets & Drainage Division at 706-613-3465. Dead animals that are located on a State Highway in Athens-Clarke County will be picked up by the Georgia Department of Transportation, please contact them at 706-583-2644.

No, there is no pet licensing in Athens-Clarke County. However, all dogs and cats must have current rabies vaccinations and must display a current rabies tag at all times. Rabies tags are obtained from the veterinarian’s office where the vaccination is given.

The process begins when a potential adopter fills out an adoption application either at the shelter or printed from our website. The application can be hand delivered or faxed. We accept applications on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once the application is received, we will provide the potential adopter with an appointment date and time to adopt. We encourage potential adopters to call before coming to their appointment to determine if an owner reclaimed the dog or another potential adopter ahead of them in line adopted the dog. The adoption fee is $50. Animal Control will transport the dog to a local veterinarian’s office for neutering or spaying. The adopter must pay for the surgery at the time the dog is picked up from the veterinarian’s office. Once the adopter submits a copy of the receipt showing the surgery has been done, the adopter will receive a refund check for $25 by mail.

We handle complaints of barking dogs during regular business hours only. We respond to these complaints by issuing a written warning to the owner at the time of the first complaint. If we receive another complaint within 90 days, we will issue a citation to the owner provided that at least two adult witnesses sign a written statement and agree to appear in Municipal Court to testify about the complaint. View the Barking Dogs Complaint Form.

We recommend that you come to the dog shelter at 125 Buddy Christian Way and determine if the dog is here first. If not, we can take a detailed lost report that we can use to identify the dog if it is brought in to us later. The Athens Banner-Herald newspaper will run a free lost dog notice in their classified advertisement section if you call 706-549-0123. Before posting signs, check with the Code Enforcement Division at 706-613-3790 regarding where signs may be posted.

You may check your voter registration status, sample ballots, absentee ballot requests and more at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov. You should receive a voter precinct card in the mail two to four weeks after submitting your application. You are not officially registered to vote until your application is approved. If you do not receive your voter registration card, or to find out if your registration is current, you should contact our office at 706-613-3150.

Yes, if you change your place of residence or if you have not voted in three or more years. If you have not voted in three or more years, it is important to confirm your registration. You can check your registration status online at My Voter Page (MVP) on the Secretary of State's website. If MVP is unable to find your information, you should contact the Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections office at 706-613-3150.

Vote early, in person, AT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OFFICE, MONDAY-FRIDAY, 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., beginning the fourth Monday immediately prior to each primary or election and shall end on the Friday immediately prior to each primary or election. The second Saturday prior to a primary or election will also be available for voting during the hours of 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. (If you cast your ballot in person you must present one of the six required forms of photo ID)

You can request an absentee ballot up to 180 days before an election. The time period for you to cast an absentee ballot by mail generally begins 45 days before a federal, state, or municipal election. All absentee ballots must be received by the county registrar by 7:00 PM on Election Day.

If you are currently enrolled in a state college, university, or technical college, you may use your school photo ID. If you attend a private college or university, you must show one of the other acceptable forms of photo identification. For more information, call 877-725-9797.

If you simply forgot your photo identification and time permits, you can retrieve it, return to the polling place, and vote. Otherwise, you can still vote a provisional ballot. You will have up to two days after the election to present appropriate photo identification at your county registrar’s office in order for your provisional ballot to be counted.

Voters without proper photo identification can obtain a free Voter Identification Card from the Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections office, located at 155 East Washington Street, or from any Georgia Department of Driver Services office.

When you arrive at the polls, you’ll check in with the poll workers, sign a voter’s certificate, and show ID. You will then be handed a voter access card programmed with your ballot information. This card unlocks the voting machine. It contains no personal data about you or your vote. Go to any available voting unit. Insert the voter card in the slot at the right hand side, and push it in firmly until it clicks. The first screen you’ll see is the instructions page. Read it carefully, then touch Next to begin voting.

The first page of the ballot will be displayed next. To make your choice, simply touch the box on the screen next to the candidates or questions. An X will appear next to your choice. To change your choice, touch the box a second time. The X will disappear. Then you can make your new selection.

Georgia’s touch-screen system will not let you choose too many candidates for an office or vote both yes and no on a question (also known as "overvoting"). A summary page will show at the end of your ballot. Races in which you have not made selections will appear in red. By touching a race, you can return to it and vote (or change your vote) if desired. After you are done making selections, touch Cast Ballot at the end of your summary screen to cast your ballot. You have now completed voting.

That depends on the number of stories the house will be. A minimum of 12”inches deep for all footings and the width will be determined by the amount of stories, 12” inches for a single story, 15” inches for a two story and 23” inches for a three story. This is based on a soil bearing capacity of 1500(psf). Other factors such as brick siding and type of foundation walls could change requirements to slightly larger widths.

First the occupancy classification must be determined, as set forth by the applicable building code. Using the occupancy classification, the minimum fixture count can now be calculated using the applicable plumbing code.

No, dryer exhaust duct must be made of metal and shall have a smooth interior surface. However transition ducts, not exceeding 8 feet in length may be used inside the dryer/laundry room and shall not be concealed within construction. (Transition duct; is a flexible connector used as a transition between the dryer outlet and the connection point to the exhaust duct system. Transition ducts must be listed and labeled for the use; transition ducts are currently listed to comply with UL 2158A).

Pressure used by gas service delivery companies are typically pounds per square inch, (psi). Pressure is reduced by a regulator to typically less than ¼ psi where the pipe enters the home; therefore larger size piping must be installed to accommodate the volume needed to operate appliances.

Yes. 2% of our light duty fleet are either Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV's) or Electric Vehicles (EV's.) As units are replaced, vehicle expectations are reviewed to determine if an alternative fuel vehicle will meet the job requirements.

Downsizing to smaller, more efficient vehicles has always been a practice of Fleet Management. Many compact sedans and pickups have replaced larger, more costly units.

Athens-Clarke County is also currently involved as partners in a federal grant with The University of Georgia and Washington County that is funding retrofits of clean diesel technologies. Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF’s) are being installed on many trucks, and idle reduction options are being explored.

The Citizens Government Academy is a 10 week program. Sessions are held each Wednesday evening from 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at various locations around Athens-Clarke County. The current program will run from March 15 - May 17, 2017 with a graduation ceremony at the Mayor & Commission regular session June 6, 2017 at 6:00 p.m.

City Hall is located in downtown Athens at 301 College Avenue. City Hall has a clock tower and eagle weathervane on the top of the building. It also has the famous cannon located at the Hancock Avenue entrance.

You must complete a notary application online and submit in person to the clerk of superior court of the county in which you reside. The fee is $37. An applicant must be at least 18 years of age, a resident of this state, and a resident of the county in which he or she applies. Applicants must be able to read and write the English language.

Please refer to your summons and read it carefully. Provisions for jurors who cannot attend jury duty on the assigned date are carefully outlined on the summons. Sending an email to the clerk of courts does not excuse a juror from service. A juror who does not appear when called for jury duty may be subject to charges of contempt of court, including fines and jail time.

The clerk of Superior and State courts will no longer accept personal checks. We will accept checks from business accounts, law firms, and certified bank checks, along with money orders. We do accept Visa and Mastercard in the office.

No, Section 7-4-6 of the Athens-Clarke County Code of Ordinance prohibits signs in the right-of-way, street corners, sidewalks, medians, utility poles, etc. Signs must be placed on private property and setback at least 5 feet from the right-of-way.

Roadside vendors in Athens-Clarke County require a business certificate from the Finance Department and a zoning permit from the Planning & Zoning Department. All roadside vendors need both before they can sell their products on the roadside.

You may print out a copy of our educational brochure on our website, or you may come in to the office to get one. Depending on availability, an officer may attend neighborhood meetings or functions to speak with citizens about their code enforcement concerns.

Code Enforcement cases are public record. You may speak with the officer who is handling your case or you may request a copy through our open records law by detailing the information you wish to obtain. If a case is still active our office is restricted in the amount and type of information that we can give by law. Once it has been closed then more complete information would be available.

On completion of our investigation and upon delivery of a death certificate, initiated by the funeral home, we will complete the certificate and return it to the funeral director who is then responsible for having it certified. If the family desires a copy of the medical examiner’s autopsy report, you must contact the Department of Forensic Sciences, Georgia Bureau of Investigation in Decatur, Georgia. You may contact them at 404-270-8527.

Pending means that the cause and manner of death are still under investigation. Pending cases may be cleared in as little as two days or may remain pending for several months. The average pending case in Georgia is cleared in six to eight weeks. If you are the next of kin and you move or change your phone number, it is imperative you inform our office at 706-613-3999 so you can be notified first when the pending case is completed.

Spouse - This is a husband or wife of a couple that is legally married; they may be separated but, not divorced

Children of the deceased who are older than 18 years of age

Parents

Siblings

The deceased will only be released to a licensed funeral director. It is important for the next of kin to select a funeral director as soon as possible and notify this office at 706-613-3999 of their selection. Contact by a funeral home is not sufficient.

Inmate visitation is held on Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Visitation is also held on approved Athens-Clarke County holidays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Only individuals on the inmate’s approved visitation list are permitted to visit. Visitation lists are updated only in May and November of each year. For additional information, you may contact the counselor at 706-613-3400. The counselor is responsible for approving all visitors.

Only specific items can be sent to an inmate with prior approval. Once the family member receives an approved package sheet from the facility for the specified items, the package can be sent. The approval form must be returned with the package. For additional information, you may contact the administrative officer at 706-613-3400.

State inmates who have been classified by the Georgia Department of Corrections as either medium or minimum security are housed. Only those inmates who can work are housed at the prison. Some inmates serving misdemeanor sentences from the county jail are housed at the prison.

State inmates receive their release through the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. County inmates receive dates of release from the sentencing judge. For additional information, you may contact the State Board of Pardons and Paroles at 404-657-9350.

To improve and upgrade the infrastructure (stormwater drainage systems, underground private utilities) and the streetscape (streets, benches, sidewalks, lighting, trees/landscaping, crosswalks, pedestrian gathering areas) in the area of Clayton Street from North Thomas Street to North Lumpkin Street.

Most of the approximately $12 million of funding comes from Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) 2005 Project #10: Business Corridor Improvements, along with Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) 2018 Project #9: Downtown Transportation Improvements Program. Both were approved by citizen votes as part of larger programs.

This project is actually a continuation of two earlier projects that have been completed. One improved both the infrastructure and streetscape on East Broad Street from North Thomas Street to Pulaski Street and on West Clayton Street from North Lumpkin Street to Pulaski Street. The second project completed improvements to the water and sewer infrastructure in parts of the Clayton Street area undergoing the next phase of work. The ACC Public Utilities Department replaced aging sewer lines and aging water lines to add more capacity. This upcoming project on Clayton Street will tie into parts of both completed projects.

Yes. In 2014, initial plans were approved and the project was split into two phases: water/sewer work and stormwater/streetscape work. The majority of water/sewer improvements were completed by the ACC Public Utilities Department in 2014, although some minor changes may be needed when the final streetscape is constructed. The stormwater/streetscape work was combined with streetscape work around City Hall and put out for bids by private contactors in 2014. No contractor submitted a bid by the November deadline. As a result, the scope was changed to only focus on the Clayton Street area and put out to bid again. One bid was submitted in 2015, but for a cost that was twice the amount of available funds and was rejected.

Since that time, the project was reconfigured to have ACC Transportation & Public Works obtain equipment and staffing to construct the stormwater segment internally, while bidding out only the above-ground streetscape work. Additional project funding was approved by citizens as part of the TSPLOST 2018 program in November 2017. In January 2018, the Mayor and Commission approved an agenda item to advance the stormwater work to the construction phase, the streetscape work to the preliminary plans phase, and to begin taking public input.

The ACC Transportation & Public Works Department will handle the stormwater system improvements. Private utilities will handle their improvements. The SPLOST Program Management Office and their consultant, T.Y. Lin International, will manage the overall project construction, but the contractor for the streetscape improvements has not yet been identified. This work will be bid out before the streetscape phase begins.

The accelerated schedule involves no major work during the football/holiday season in 2018. Completion is expected in August. It would involve extensive work between January and August 2019 and require more lane and street closures, as well as business interruptions.

The continuous schedule is expected to finish by January 2020, but would involve some work during the football/holiday seasons of 2018 and 2019.

The split schedule is expected to finish by September 2020. In the split schedule, no major stormwater or streetscape work would take place during the football/holiday seasons in the fall of either 2018 or 2019.

Lane closures will be needed at times, so traffic will be impacted to some degree depending on the adopted schedule. The project will be staged in sections to avoid issues in any one area for longer than necessary.

If the split schedule is adopted, no major construction is planned during the UGA football home game timeframe. Whichever schedule is adopted, work would be cleaned up and temporary repairs made as much as possible by the Thursday evening before major event weekends. Some lane or street closures or parking restrictions may be necessary over these events on areas of the streets, but would be as minimal as possible.

We’ve learned a lot about urban trees since these were planted decades ago. The trees that were planted were not well suited for confined urban spaces, nor were the planters that encased them as well designed as today’s planters. These trees are also nearing the end of their lifecycle and are not only in decline, but they have grown throughout the downtown infrastructure, causing problems with sidewalks, utilities, streets, and even buildings. Some have already been removed due to safety concerns. It is impossible to replace and improve the underground infrastructure and streetscape without seriously damaging or killing the existing trees.

Yes. Trees better suited to an urban environment will be planted in spaces better designed to handle their root systems. These trees should last for decades, if not longer, without causing the problems of these older ones.

It is not yet known for sure. Plans call for minimal tree removal during Phase I in 2014, with the remaining trees to be removed in 2015, but more may have to be removed earlier depending on how the existing trees have grown into the underground infrastructure. We won’t know until work begins and we get into the project.

Yes. Access will be maintained to businesses as much as possible during the entire project. Short time frames for utility tie-ins or sidewalk cuts will be needed in front of a business entrance that may impact access. In these cases, owners will be notified and attempts will be made to schedule work for times of minimal disruption.

None is presently scheduled. However, some sidewalk or lane restrictions may be necessary for safety over weekends or to complete certain sections due to unforeseen circumstances encountered during construction.

Yes. Funding of 1% of the project budget for public art is part of every SPLOST 2011 and TSPLOST 2018 project unless the Athens Cultural Affairs Commission (ACAC) specifically exempts it. ACAC will coordinate using $53,650 for public art on this project. It is not yet known what form the public art will take.

Maybe. Although not part of the Clayton Street project specifically, changes to the sidewalk cafe ordinance will be considered during the same time frame as part of findings from an overall downtown safety study.

Yes. There are 12 outdoor warning sirens within Athens-Clarke County. Sirens are activated whenever a tornado warning has been issued for any part of Athens-Clarke County. The sirens are to alert citizens who are outside of the imminent threat and to seek shelter immediately.

Companies wishing to do business with Athens-Clarke County must register by completing a bidders list application. The bidders list application will provide departments with information about the products and services available from a company.

When applying for a Business Occupation Tax Certificate you will need location approval from the Planning and Zoning Department, your tax identification number, your Georgia State Sales Tax Number, a copy of any state licenses, and a signed, notarized residency affidavit located with the application form.

Most types of open burning – including the burning of vegetative matter such as leaves, tree stumps, brush, and forest residue – are prohibited in Athens-Clarke County. Additionally, non-containment devices such as backyard fireplaces, open metal drums, burn barrels, or burn pits cannot be used for open burning. There are a few exceptions for such things as cooking food, using open flame devices such as welding torches, and “prescribed burning” permitted by the GA Forestry Commission View Chapter 4.4 Open Burning Prohibition

Yes. Community rooms are available at Station 3 (Five Points), Station 4 (Oglethorpe Avenue), Station 7 (Barnett Shoals Road), Station 8 (Jefferson Road), and Station 9 (Danielsville Road). There is a $10 rental fee (per two-hour time period) and a $25 damage deposit fee. For more information, please contact the facilities coordinator at 706-613-3360.

Yes. Birthday parties are only permitted at Fire Station 1 (700 College Avenue, behind Hotel Indigo). The room seats 20 children and is available Monday through Saturday at either 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. (only one birthday party per day). The rental fee is $10, and a $25 damage deposit is required. Athens-Clarke County Fire and Emergency Services only supplies the usage of the room, a table, and ice. For more information, please contact the facilities coordinator at 706-613-3360.

Fire reports can be obtained from Fire Headquarters located at 700 College Avenue. There is a $2 charge for fire reports. Please call 706-613-3365 in advance of your arrival so your report can be printed and reviewed prior to your arrival.

Housing discrimination based on your race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, age, or disability is illegal. If you believe your rights have been violated you can file a fair housing complaint by using an online form or you can call the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity toll-free 1 (800) 669-9777. Fair Housing Complaint Form

Paper applications are no longer being accepted for positions with Athens-Clarke County. If you have problems with the online application process, the Human Resources Department has work stations and assistance available at 375 Satula Avenue, Athens, GA 30601 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday for completing online applications.

Pay close attention to the "Minimum Qualifications" section of the job posting. It is important to include all relevant education, experience, and training. Applications that do not meet required minimum qualifications will not be considered. Incomplete applications may be rejected.

Yes, but you only need to enter your basic application information once. After you have completed this step, you may easily submit your application for as many positions as you would like, whenever you like from any computer with an Internet connection.

Following the application deadline, applications will be carefully and thoroughly evaluated. Those meeting minimum qualifications are certified and sent to the hiring manager within seven business days of the application deadline. The hiring manager makes selections for those to be interviewed. Depending upon the position, there may be additional skill testing, physical testing, and/or conditional hire evaluations.

All available information regarding the status of your application and the position vacancy will be available by logging into your account. The system will notify you via e-mail as appropriate during the selection process. Click on "History" for each active application to see its updated status information. It is your responsibility to check your account and e-mail for updates, invitations to scheduled testing, and invitations for interview.

New positions may be posted at any time. We recommend that you check daily for newly-listed positions or sign up for one of two different kinds of electronic notifications about positions.

The first notification is based on specific job categories. You may sign up for these by visiting the Job Interest Card by going to 'Notify me when this position becomes available' link on any job listing or the Job Interest Card menu item on the Athens-Clarke County employment pages.

Over time, changes to jobs and changes in the labor market can create problems in the classification system. If jobs are not properly classified, it may be hard to recruit and retain qualified employees, or morale might suffer. Although Human Resources works hard to maintain the classification system, we have determined a need for an outside consultant to conduct an in-depth evaluation of our classification system and provide recommendations to correct any problems that may have developed over time.

Once the study has been completed, our consultants will provide recommendations that could include changes to job titles, pay grades, career ladders, and pay related policies. The study may recommend pay increases in some cases, but will never recommend pay cuts for any employee. Additionally, job descriptions will be updated to improve their accuracy. The pay study is not about evaluating individual employee performance or capabilities, nor is it about evaluating staffing levels or departmental structures.

We expect that the study should be completed by June. Keep in mind that the study will only provide recommendations for changes. Depending upon the cost of the recommendations it may be necessary to phase in implementation over time. Thank you for taking the time to read this important information. If you have questions, please direct them to your supervisor. Additionally, we will be posting answers to commonly asked questions to a new page on the employee site at accgov.com/paystudy.

The two primary components of the study are a market analysis and job evaluations. The market analysis, to be conducted by MAG, will gather information about pay and benefits provided by other organizations in our labor market. We will use this information to determine the extent to which our pay is competitive.

The second primary component of the study, job evaluations, is intended to gain a thorough and accurate understanding of each job in the government. For this, we need your help. Each employee will be relied upon to describe his or her job to the consultants through a survey called a Job Analysis Questionnaire (JAQ). The information gathered through this process, supplemented with information provided by supervisors and department heads, will be used to place jobs within the updated classification system.

Yes. In fact, your supervisor is supposed to provide input as well. Your supervisor’s comments and your comments about the duties and responsibilities of your job together create a document that is recognized by the courts as having been prepared by the “subject matter experts”. However, your supervisor cannot change what you say about the requirements of the job once you officially mark it “Finished”. Supervisors can only agree or disagree with you, and enter their own comments separately.

Once you mark your JAQ “FINISHED”, no one can make no changes. Be sure to do a quick read-through on everything you have written to assure that it is accurate when you believe you are done, and then return to the MAIN MENU page and click the “FINISHED” button. That locks it up, and no further changes can be made.

The Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful (KACCB) office is located at the ACC Solid Waste Department at 725 Hancock Industrial Way. Our office can be accessed from the 10/441/129 Loop. On the East end of the loop turn onto Olympic Drive at the red light. Go 1.1 miles and Hancock Industrial Way will be on your right (past Carrier Transicold). Travel 1/4 mile and the ACC Solid Waste Department is the first building on the right.

Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful is proud to support home composting by offering the Earth Machine compost bin for sale to the public. The compost bin can be purchased for $50 and includes a kitchen compost pail. For more information about the bin, please visit Earth Machine. Compost bins can be purchased in person by cash, check, or PayPal at KACCB Shopping Cart

Adopt-A-Highway is a local litter prevention program sponsored by Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful (KACCB) that works to involve community volunteers in local roadside clean-up efforts. The goal of the program is to reduce roadside litter in an effort to keep our community clean and beautiful. Community organizations and/or volunteers accept the responsibility of regular litter pickups on their “adopted” local roadway. Adopt-A-Highway is part of the larger Adopt Athens Program. Any civic-minded organization, such as garden clubs, church groups, scout groups, student clubs, businesses, corporations, families, etc. can adopt a stretch of county roadway. Visit KACCB's Website for more information, an application, to request tools, or report a pickup. Or call 706-613-3501 ext. 309 for an application.

Adopt Athens is a community appearance program that allows community volunteers to take part in the care and maintenance of county roads, parks, rivers, medians, bus stops, etc. Please contact the Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful office at 706-613-3501 ext. 309 for an application or further information.

There is no monetary cost involved. All supplies (grab-its, safety vests, trash bags) are supplied by Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful (KACCB). The organization supplies the manpower. The KACCB program provides and installs two free metal Adopt-A-Highway road signs listing the name of the adopting organization.

An individual can participate in the monthly Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful (KACCB) clean-ups called “The Down and Dirty of Keepin’ Athens Clean.” The KACCB Program takes citizen recommendations to determine the down and dirty site locations.

Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful (KACCB) and Habitat for Humanity have partnered to bring you the Athens Area ToolShed program. This community resource offers a large inventory of tools ranging from gardening tools to renovation tools to assist you and your volunteers with community improvement projects. To reserve tools, complete and submit a Tool Reservation Form as far in advance of your project as possible. This form is available at KACCB's Toolshed.

Recycling roll carts and bins are reserved for residential customers who pay for monthly garbage and recycling services through Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Department (our service area is the Urban Service District - old Athens city limits). We just need your address and our customer service representative will drop them off for you. If you live outside the Urban Service District in the General Service District and receive trash service from a private trash hauler, please contact the private hauler for bins. They are required to provide bins for recycling when requested.

If you don’t have trash service or you live in an apartment complex (multi-family dwelling), you may use one of our eight drop-off sites for recycling, and we can send you two large green reusable recycling tote bags (20 inches tall by 20 inches wide with a 12-inch gusset / bottom). There is no charge for the bags. We can mail the bags if provided a physical address to mail them. You can also come and pick them up from the KACCB office or the Athens-Clarke County Recycling Facility. The bags are washable, but not suitable for machine drying.

Contact your apartment complex manager or landlord and inquire as to who is collecting your garbage from your dumpster. The company that handles your garbage may work with you to collect your recyclables. Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Department does provide commercial dumpster services; we compete with private haulers in the area for business. If Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste department is your commercial hauler then all recycling collections are included at no additional charge. Our fees can be found on our Recycling Dumpster page

If you have a computer contact Free IT Athens. Otherwise just drop off your electronic device at the Athens-Clarke County Landfill for recycling. View a list of accepted electronic devices. We currently don’t take TVs. These can be thrown out as trash or stored until our fall TV collection day.

Cooking oil can be dropped off at the Solid Waste Department for recycling at no cost. Do not under any circumstances discard the old cooking oil in the sink or toilet. Not only will you potentially clog your drains, but you may cause serious problems for the Water Pollution Control plant.

The Landscape Management Division does not have the ability to mandate tree removal. If the tree poses a threat to streets, sidewalks, or utilities, the community forester can evaluate the tree and issue a notification letter via certified mail. If public property is not at risk, the community forester can provide a limited evaluation, but a notification letter will not be issued.

The Georgia Department of Transportation has responsibility for mowing all state highways and schedules mowing services once per year. Athens-Clarke County now supplements state route mowing on highways other than Loop 10, US 29 North, and US 78 West.

Please report all dump sites to Community Protection so they can investigate the site for the offenders’ contact information. Community Protection will coordinate the clean-up efforts with Landscape Management once it has been reported.

The splash pads, located at East Athens Community Park and Rocksprings Park.. The Trail Creek Park Splash Pad will open in early May (please check back for specific date) and remain open weekends, only, until Memorial Day Weekend when it will operate under regular seasonal hours. The splash pad is open 10:00 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. The fee is $1 per person. The Rocksprings Park Splash Pad will open for the season Saturday, May 26 with hours of 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (All splash pads are closed Mondays for maintenance)

Meeting rooms are available at several department facilities, including the East Athens Community Center, Lay Park, Sandy Creek Nature Center, and other locations. View locations and rental information.

Applications can be submitted at any Leisure Services facility office during regular hours of operation. Applicants must apply at least five business days prior to registration. Applicants must have a valid email address.

In the event that inclement weather causes a fireworks cancellation, the Cosmic Charlie concert will be relocated from the showmobile to the Morton Theatre. Seating is limited to the first 500 patrons.

Should the fireworks display have to be cancelled, information will be posted on the Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department's Facebook page and Twitter.

The festival area is located on Washington Street (between Lumpkin Street and Jackson Street) and College Avenue (between Hancock Avenue and Broad Street). The area includes children's activities and food trucks.

No, once you have established a free online account it is active forever. It does not need to be renewed. You can make changes to your account by logging in and editing it, and now you can list your cell phone provider in case you would prefer to be contacted via text in addition to or instead of email.

Do not create multiple accounts – you only need one per family. For scholarship participants—creating multiple accounts will keep your scholarship from being connected correctly, since we can only attach them to one account.

The credit or debit card you pay with needs to have the same billing address as the address shown on the payment screen or it may reject your payment and cause the process to slow down.

In the payment screen your address will automatically populate based on your account information, make sure the card you use to pay has the same address as the one you listed on your account or list the billing address for the card you are using.

Do not click the “submit payment” button multiple times, this may result in your credit/debit card having multiple pending charges on your account.

Your “cart” will expire at 15 minutes – choose your programs and check out, don’t wait. If you wait or get busy doing something else and let your cart expire you will lose what you had in your cart and have to start over in the registration process.

Review the list of programs and prioritize your registration plan. Programs with small capacity tend to fill very quickly.

The Office of Park Planning provides design and planning services for the Leisure Services Department. Park Planning leads the development of Park Master Plans, develops standards for park facilities and amenities, provides services to other divisions within the Leisure Services Department, and provides oversight of construction projects for the Leisure Services Department.

Planning focuses on managing community change in both the short and the long term with regard to land use, transportation, historic preservation, urban design and overall development of Athens-Clarke County.

A Park Master Plan serves as a long-range vision for future development and programming of the park and its resources. The time-frame on a Master Plan is typically 10 to 20 years. The plan is conceptual in nature and not intended to address detailed issues related to engineered site design or park operations. Typical items addressed in a Park Master Plan include planning park elements, natural and cultural resources, and general design concerns.

Athens' parks and recreation needs are growing. Park Master Plans provide the public a way to help determine the best uses of a site and help Leisure Services Department staff optimize management of the park's resources. Park planners use public input combined with analyses of current trends and future needs identified in the Park Plan to create a blueprint for use of a park site over the next 10 to 20 years. By creating Park Master Plans, we can develop the future vision of our parks here in Athens-Clarke County.

For general feedback and questions, you can contact us directly. If you want to provide public input for any of our projects, contact us to find out when we will be holding public input sessions or surveys. Many of our surveys are published online, and we announce these through our Leisure Services Facebook page and through general media as well. Additionally, you can contact your commissioner and have them voice your concerns or wishes to us.

It is a proposed, partially funded multi-purpose path for pedestrian, bicycle and other non-motorized uses that will stretch about 39 miles from Athens to Union Point, Georgia. It will be built on or near the historic corridor of the Athens Branch of the Georgia Railroad.

Rail-trails are paths that follow the routes of abandoned or otherwise out-of-use railroads. They provide a safe, off-road resource for walking, running, bicycling, skating and other non-motorized uses. Being wide, level (railroads need gentle grades), and connected to communities, they are perfectly suited to people of all ages and abilities, providing tangible benefits for health, safety, historic preservation, active transportation, community pride, and economic development. Rail-trails may be paved, made of crushed rock, or even left as dirt. They range from half a mile to more than 200 miles long.

Its northern end will be on East Broad Street in Athens. Moving south, trail users will pass through Winterville into Oglethorpe County, where the trail will connect Arnoldsville, Crawford, Stephens and Maxeys. Continuing into Greene County, trail users will pass through Hutchins and Woodville before reaching the southern terminus in downtown Union Point.

Trails are safe places for exercise and active transportation, so they help people of all ages combat cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and other effects of inactive lifestyles. By separating bike/ped traffic from roadways, trails can improve safety. Trails bring foot and bicycle traffic, which is good for business, and long trails often attract significant tourism. Trails can be resources for historic preservation and education, as well as corridors for nature. Trails tend to reduce crime in the areas they serve and increase nearby property values. Most importantly, trails make communities more attractive places to live and work, which helps recruit and retain investment in new businesses, industries and residents.

Athens-Clarke County has hired a contractor to build a 0.8-mile segment of the Firefly Trail from East Broad Street to Old Winterville Road, including bridges over the North Oconee River and Peter Street. ACC also has instructed staff to begin right-of-way acquisition between Old Winterville Road and Winterville Road, and to work with Firefly Trail Inc., and Athens Land Trust to start approaching landowners along the rest of the corridor in ACC.

At the same time, Maxeys has secured a $100,000 recreational trails grant with the intent of building about a mile of trail within its city limits. Firefly Trail, Inc., is launching a major fund-raising campaign to assist Maxeys and, we hope, pave significantly more trail within that city. Winterville, Woodville and Union Point are actively seeking funding sources.

The Georgia Railroad, Georgia’s first state-chartered railroad, opened in 1841 to connect Athens to Augusta by way of Union Point. Originally, it terminated in Athens at Carr's Hill, but in 1888, bridges were added over Trail Creek and the North Oconee River to bring trains into downtown. The Athens Branch was abandoned in 1984 by CSX Transportation, which finished removing rails and other structures by 2000. Public outcry over the demolition of the Trail Creek trestle, made famous by the rock band REM, led Athens-Clarke County to buy the trestle.

No. Portions of it are still owned by CSX. Other portions are owned by adjacent landowners who have clear title. For some portions, ownership is unclear. Fortunately, we have heard from a number of property owners who are eager to help make the trail a reality. Unfortunately, some other property owners are opposed to the trail.

Much of the opposition to trails grows out of fear of crime and loss of privacy. The experience of hundreds of other communities is that trails tend to reduce crime and increase safety. Also, impacts on privacy are typically much lower than landowners fear. In the few places where there are actual impacts, privacy fencing, landscaping and signage can mitigate problems. Addressing opposition requires listening, open communication, and patience.

Engineers have determined that the partially demolished trestle over Trail Creek cannot be upgraded to support a multi-purpose path. Athens-Clarke County has committed to creating a railroad-grade crossing of Trail Creek in the future. In the meantime, the Firefly Trail will come off railroad grade to use an existing Greenway bridge over the creek.

Cost depends on how much of the corridor is donated and the surface material used (concrete, asphalt, or crushed cinders). In urban areas, a good rule of thumb is $1 million per mile. In rural areas, the cost can be much lower. Firefly Trail, Inc. has a very rough estimate of about $13 million for the 38 miles from Old Winterville Road to Union Point.

Lots of sources over time. Most long trails are built in segments as funding becomes available. Funding for the first segments of the Firefly Trail is coming through Special Local Option Sales Taxes and federal and state grants. Possible future sources include private donations; transportation sales taxes; special local option sales taxes; gifts and grants from private businesses, industries and foundations; public fundraisers, and a variety of state and federal programs. Donors can make a big difference: In Greenville County, S.C., a $1 million commitment from Greenville Health System helped make the Swamp Rabbit Trail a reality.

Yes. The big vision is that the Firefly Trail will be the first part of a network of trails serving the entire region, including Watkinsville, Madison and Greensboro. Also, we are in the process of expanding our Greenway network and improving our bicycle and sidewalk infrastructure.

Firefly Trail, Inc. needs volunteers, advocates and donors! For more information, please visit their website or send them an email. Firefly Trail Inc., is a 501(c)3 organization, so donations are tax-exempt to the full extent allowed by law. Thank you for your support!

The documents accepted are the most recent IRS Tax Form 10-40 and a recent utility bill (within last 90 days) for the dependency, income, and residency requirement. Additionally, a photo ID is required.

Applicants without a current tax return and utility bill can continue to apply for hardship consideration. A designated Leisure Services staff member will accept other documents for review and determination.

All requests for continuance must be given to the court in writing for consideration by the Judge. Depending on the circumstances, the clerk may contact the opposing party to determine if they oppose the request. A request for continuance does not guarantee the case will be post-poned. The Judge will make the decision as to whether a case will be continued. You should always follow up with the Clerk to find out whether your request has been granted.

The Clerk of Magistrate Court will accept Answers by fax at 706-613-3314. But, if you file an Answer by fax, it is your responsibility to make sure the fax is properly transmitted and received by 5:00 p.m. on the last day to answer.

If a decision is made to close the Magistrate Court, we will post a notice on the web site and notify the Sheriff of Athens-Clarke County. You may check the Magistrate Court home page or call the Sheriff's Department at 706-613-3250.

Yes. Approval of a Zoning Permit from the Planning Department is required prior to construction or installation of an accessory structure, including sheds, gazebos, swimming pools, detached garages, etc. Standards for maximum allowable lot coverage, building setbacks and maximum height depend on the zoning designation of the property, but the standards in Section 9-15-12 apply to most residential accessory structures. A Building Permit may be required from the Building Permits and Inspections Department, depending on the structure.

The Planning Department relies upon a variety of media to issue public notice. For public notices required by local ordinance and state statutes, a legal advertisement is placed in the Athens Banner Herald and a sign is posted on the subject property. Notification letters are mailed to all property owners within 400 feet of a proposed rezone, special use, or planned development, and within 400 feet of some demolitions (if the district commissioner requests a 90 day review of a proposed demolition, notices are mailed). Email notifications are sent out via the Neighborhood Notification Initiative.

Applications for rezoning, planned developments, special use permits, variances and certificates of appropriateness require public notification via legal advertisements and sign postings at the subject properties. By adopted policy of the Mayor and Commission, all of the above except variances and certificates of appropriateness also require mailed notices to surrounding property owners. Demolition proposals require a mailed notice and sign posting if the district commissioner requests a 90 day review. Preliminary plat applications also require public notification via legal advertisement.

The Hearings Board, Historic Preservation Commission and Planning Commission all have monthly public hearings for projects placed on their agendas. Meeting agendas are posted online and information about the projects is sent out through required legal notice procedures and through the Neighborhood Notification Initiative. Anyone may attend a board or commission meeting and comment on record about a proposed project, as follows:

Hearings Board Any person may address the Hearings Board concerning the item under consideration for up to three minutes. The petitioner may speak for up to ten minutes. A person may register with the Secretary prior to the start of the meeting to speak for up to ten minutes.

Written comment: Can be submitted any time prior to the meeting.

Historic Preservation Commission Any person may address the Historic Preservation Commission concerning the item under consideration for up to three minutes. The petitioner may speak for up to ten minutes. All speakers must state their name and home address upon approaching the podium to speak.

Written comment: If you are not able to attend the public meeting, you may submit comments in writing. In order to have written comments reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission prior to their vote on an item, submit 10 copies of your letter or other document, including your name and address, to the Planning Department no later than one week before the meeting.

Planning Commission Any person may address the Planning Commission concerning the item under consideration for up to three minutes. The petitioner may speak for up to ten minutes. A “specified interest group”, such as a representative for a neighborhood, may speak for up to ten minutes only if they register with the Secretary prior to the start of the meeting. All speakers must state their name, home address and occupation upon approaching the podium to speak.

Written comment: If you are not able to attend the public meeting, you may submit comments in writing. In order to have written comments reviewed by the Planning Commission prior to their vote on an item, submit 15 copies of your letter or other document, including your name and address, to the Planning Department no later than one week before the meeting.

Because projects submitted for Plans Review are reviewed under existing zoning regulations, a public hearing is not required. Anyone may attend a Plans Review meeting to observe.

The Hearings Board, Historic Preservation Commission and Planning Commission all have monthly public hearings for projects placed on their agendas. Meeting agendas are posted online and information about the projects is sent out through required legal notice procedures and through the Neighborhood Notification Initiative. Anyone may attend a board or commission meeting and comment on record about a proposed project, as follows:

Hearings Board Any person may address the Hearings Board concerning the item under consideration for up to three minutes. The petitioner may speak for up to ten minutes. A person may register with the Secretary prior to the start of the meeting to speak for up to ten minutes.

Written comment: Can be submitted any time prior to the meeting.

Historic Preservation Commission Any person may address the Historic Preservation Commission concerning the item under consideration for up to three minutes. The petitioner may speak for up to ten minutes. All speakers must state their name and home address upon approaching the podium to speak.

Written comment: If you are not able to attend the public meeting, you may submit comments in writing. In order to have written comments reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission prior to their vote on an item, submit 10 copies of your letter or other document, including your name and address, to the Planning Department no later than one week before the meeting.

Planning Commission Any person may address the Planning Commission concerning the item under consideration for up to three minutes. The petitioner may speak for up to ten minutes. A “specified interest group”, such as a representative for a neighborhood, may speak for up to ten minutes only if they register with the Secretary prior to the start of the meeting. All speakers must state their name, home address and occupation upon approaching the podium to speak.

Written comment: If you are not able to attend the public meeting, you may submit comments in writing. In order to have written comments reviewed by the Planning Commission prior to their vote on an item, submit 15 copies of your letter or other document, including your name and address, to the Planning Department no later than one week before the meeting.

Because projects submitted for Plans Review are reviewed under existing zoning regulations, a public hearing is not required. Anyone may attend a Plans Review meeting to observe.

The Planning Department relies upon a variety of media to issue public notice. For public notices required by local ordinance and state statutes, a legal advertisement is placed in the Athens Banner Herald and a sign is posted on the subject property. Notification letters are mailed to all property owners within 400 feet of a proposed rezone, special use, or planned development, and within 400 feet of some demolitions (if the district commissioner requests a 90 day review of a proposed demolition, notices are mailed). Email notifications are sent out via the Neighborhood Notification Initiative.

Applications for rezoning, planned developments, special use permits, variances and certificates of appropriateness require public notification via legal advertisements and sign postings at the subject properties. By adopted policy of the Mayor and Commission, all of the above except variances and certificates of appropriateness also require mailed notices to surrounding property owners. Demolition proposals require a mailed notice and sign posting if the district commissioner requests a 90 day review. Preliminary plat applications also require public notification via legal advertisement.

No. When the boundaries are drawn for a local historic district, it will often include non-historic properties as well. Changes made to non-historic properties can often be done in a way that will enhance or be in keeping with the integrity of the entire district. Often improvements will increase property values to both historic and non-historic structures within a district.

Designation as a local historic district does not prevent owners from making changes to their properties, but ensures that the changes do not detract from the architectural, historical, and/or aesthetic qualities of the district. Alterations to the exteriors of properties within local historic districts must receive prior approval from the Historic Preservation Commission. Owners must apply to the commission for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA). COA applications are submitted to the Planning Department and are due the first Wednesday of each month. A report on the COA application is presented by Planning Department staff to the commission at its regular meeting on the third Wednesday of each month.

A COA is not required for minor repair or maintenance work, such as painting or plantings. However, a COA would be required for work that physically alters the property, such as enclosing a porch or adding a fence or retaining wall.

Designation of an area as a historic district will not directly affect property values. Because local historic district properties have some protection and tax incentives available, owners may be more inclined to make improvements to their properties, and this may increase the value of all property in a given district.

Yes. Before a local historic district is designated, all residents and owners of property in the proposed local district have the opportunity to express their views at public hearings with the Athens-Clarke County Historic Preservation Commission and the Mayor and Commission.

Yes. Owners will be able to make requests at public hearings with both the Athens-Clarke County Historic Preservation Commission and the Mayor and Commission if they are not content with being in a district.

Historic district property owners who want assistance in planning historically appropriate designs may contact the historic preservation planner at the Athens-Clarke County Planning Department or the Historic Preservation Commission. The planner and commission cannot develop plans or designs but can offer some suggestions based on the Athens-Clarke County Design Guidelines. Consultations in the early design stages are especially encouraged.

This varies depending upon the application deadline. The Hearings Board, Historic Preservation Commission and Planning Commission have monthly deadlines. Plans Review deadlines occur every Tuesday. Projects that are submitted by a deadline are placed on the appropriate agenda and notices about projects on that particular agenda are emailed at that time, typically several days after the deadline. Demolition and relocation notices are sent as applications are submitted.

NNI neighborhoods are formed when a neighborhood registers to participate in the NNI and a contact person is designated for the group. The contact person receives early notification for projects that submit applications to the Planning Commission. Overlay areas include commission districts, road corridors and the downtown area and do not have a designated contact person.

Applications submitted to the Planning Commission (Rezones, Planned Developments and Special Uses) require a pre-application conference with staff at least two weeks prior to the next application deadline. If these projects fall within the boundary of a registered neighborhood, early notification is sent to the designated neighborhood contact person to encourage communication between applicants and neighborhoods in advance of submittal deadlines. Sometimes applicants do not move forward with the application process after their pre-application conference. As such, early notification is only sent to the neighborhood contact person to forward on to their neighborhood as they see fit.

No. You may contact the NNI coordinator for more information about a notice, but replies cannot be addressed to the entire NNI. Many neighborhoods have their own listserv groups for communication with neighbors through web services like Yahoo Groups or Google Groups.

Fill out a registration form and turn it in to the Planning Department along with a map of the neighborhood boundaries and a copy of your neighborhood's organizational documents (articles of incorporation, by-laws, covenants, etc.). If your neighborhood does not have an established organizational structure, a petition signed by at least 20% of property owners or residents endorsing the group formation and the designated contact person substitutes for the organizational documentation. The GIS staff in the Planning Department can help create the boundary map. The NNI coordinator will forward this information to the ACC Commissioner representing the district the neighborhood falls within. With their endorsement, the Mayor and Commission will vote on the official registration and mapped boundaries of your neighborhood organization. Once the neighborhood is mapped, anyone may sign up to receive notices for projects within and adjacent to the neighborhood's boundaries.

Neighborhood boundaries are often organic and can change over time depending upon the age of the neighborhood, changes in surrounding development, and perceptions of its residents; therefore, it is entirely up to neighborhood organizations to establish their own boundaries as they see fit. Sometimes these delineations correspond directly to original subdivision plats, but just as often they may not. Talk to your neighbors about how boundaries are perceived. Because boundaries are self-defined for participation in the Neighborhood Notification Initiative, there are no exclusionary rules. Boundaries of different neighborhoods may overlap, or smaller neighborhoods may form entirely within the boundaries of a larger group.

When a group is just beginning to form to participate in the Neighborhood Notification Initiative and does not have an established leadership structure or organizational history, a petition endorsing the group's formation is required. This step is important to ensure that a reasonable consensus exists regarding the proposed boundaries and to designate a contact person. At least 20% of the residents or property owners within a proposed boundary area should sign the petition. If a proposed neighborhood area includes 100 properties, signatures from at least 20 properties should be included.

Every Tuesday at noon is the submittal deadline. We send out the agenda (the plans we received that week) to all of the reviewers, and then post the plans digitally into the computer system. Paper copies are made available to the departments that require them. Then, staff from reviewing departments (Building Inspections, Public Utilities, Planning, Transit, etc.) looks at the plans and make sure that what is proposed meets the different codes and requirements for each reviewer. Comments from the reviewers are sent out to the contact person for the project and then discussed at the Plans Review meeting.

Plans Review is for any commercial, institutional, industrial, or multi-family residential project that requires three (3) or more reviewers. For instance, if you are renovating a commercial building and changing walls (structural), electrical, and plumbing—the project would require Plans Review.

No. While coming to the meeting can be very informative and help you understand what the reviewers are looking for, attendance is not mandatory. We do ask that you notify Bruce Lonnee, Bryce Hix, or Craig Page at least 24 hours before the scheduled meeting time if you will not be attending.

Many projects require resubmittals. Have your plans revised to satisfy the comments from the reviewers and then submit with a completed Revision Form. Follow the instructions on the form for number of copies and other resubmittal requirements. Unlike the initial Plans Review submittal, a resubmittal does not have a specific deadline. Just get the plans to us whenever they are ready and we’ll get them to the different reviewers.

There are a number of resources available to help you through the review process. First, read the ACC Plans Review Handbook. It is full of information about the requirements of every reviewing department. For a helpful list of do’s and don’ts, check out the Top Ten Keys to Success in Plans Review. Also, feel free to contact the Development Coordinator (706-613-3233). The Development Coordinator position is newly created to help applicants navigate the review process.

It will depend on the size of your lot, where the tree(s) are located and what your zoning is. Please refer to the Tree Removal Flowchart to determine if a permit is necessary to remove trees from your property.

Athens Clarke County does not have the ability to mandate tree removal. If the tree poses a threat to streets, sidewalks, or utilities, the Community Forester can evaluate the tree and issue a notification letter via certified mail. If public property is not at risk, the Community Forester can provide a limited evaluation, but a notification letter will not be issued. Additional information:

Most of the time, businesses are conserving trees during development. Many times the conserved trees are found around the perimeter of the property or in other areas where the least amount of disturbance during construction will occur. Since property boundaries are not always clear, it can be difficult to ascertain just how much canopy is being conserved. Occasionally there are site constraints - such as a lack of existing trees or sidewalk, building setback and stormwater requirements - that make it impossible for trees to be conserved. When this is the case, an administrative waiver can be issued by the Planning Director and additional plantings are used to mitigate for missing canopy.

The Community Tree Program offers tree management consultations to Athens-Clarke County residents to help with their management objectives. There is no charge for our staff to come meet with you as these consultations are a tax-funded service. Please contact Landscape Management staff to schedule a consultation.

At this time, only trees in the Tree Preservation Area located along Milledge Avenue between West Broad Street and Lumpkin Street are protected. The Tree Preservation Area is located between the front facade of the principal building on the lot and the front property line and any tree 8" in diameter or larger are protected. These trees require a separate permit and approval from the Planning Department prior to removal.

Athens-Clarke County does not endorse any particular tree service; however we do recommend that you consider using a Certified Arborist for work on living trees. Check out the ISA website to find a Certified Arborist in our area:

The best time to plant a tree in our region is from November to early March, when the trees are dormant. Dormancy occurs after the leaves have dropped in the fall and before the new buds break in the spring.

The first step is to determine whether the individual who has died left a will. If there is a will, then the executor or some other person may offer the will for probate in the Probate Court. Even if the will is not going to be probated, anyone who is in possession of the will of a decedent must bring the will to the Probate Court for filing. If there is no will, then the usual procedure is to have an administrator appointed to take care of the decedent's estate. Whether or not there is a will, if a spouse or minor child (under age 18) survives the decedent, they may want to consider whether to file for year's support. For more information, view When a Loved One Dies.

People are not required to have a lawyer to represent them, but in many cases it is advisable to have a lawyer. The clerks of the Probate Court may not serve as your legal advisors, and you should not expect them to perform legal or clerical services for you. They work for and at the direction of the probate judge. It is their responsibility to process the volume of paperwork filed in the office and to attend to the administrative aspects of the operation of this office. They are here to serve you, and they will want to do so to the best of their abilities. They are not allowed to complete any paperwork for you, nor can they make a legal determination or advise you on which proceeding is most appropriate or advisable.

The information on this website and the Probate Court Standard Forms are designed to help you perform simple filings on your own. However, if you find that the filing is more difficult than you expected, you should seek the assistance of an attorney. A lawyer may not cost as much as you think. Please note that we cannot recommend a lawyer.

Any person who is age 18 or over and who is not incapacitated can serve as an administrator. The person does not have to be a resident of Georgia or a U.S. citizen. The person may be, but is not required to be, an heir or other member of the decedent's family.

The heirs may unanimously select the person who will serve. If all the heirs agree on who should be the Administrator, then fill in that person's name on page 1 (Part 2) and on page 4 of the Standard Form 3. Also all the heirs must sign the Selection by Heirs portion on page 4 of Standard Form 3. If the heirs live in different places, you may make several copies of page 4 and have each heir sign a copy and have the signature notarized and file all the separate copies.

If the heirs can't agree on who should serve, the Probate Court will choose the administrator. In making this selection, the Probate Court will consider, but is not required to choose, the decedent's spouse, heirs, a person selected by a majority of the heirs, a creditor, or other eligible persons. Even if the heirs cannot agree unanimously, the person who files the petition can fill in a suggested name on page 1 of Standard Form 3, but the Probate Court is not required to appoint that person.

Notice must be mailed to all of the heirs whose addresses are known. Alternatively, the heirs may waive notice by filing a written and notarized Acknowledgement of Service and waiver (page 4 of Standard Form 3). Also, notice must be published in the county newspaper if the identities or addresses of any heirs are not known or the heirs have consented to a waiver of bond and/or a grant of powers. Check the appropriate paragraph on page 4 (Part 5) of Standard Form 3. If publication is required, the Probate Court will collect a publication fee from you and will then handle the publication process. If there are heirs who are minors or incapacitated adults or who are unknown or whose addresses are unknown, a guardian ad litem must be appointed.

An administrator is responsible for handling the decedent's estate - that is, for figuring out what is in the estate, for paying the decedent's debts and for transferring the decedent's property to the heirs. The powers of the administrator are limited by law so that an administrator may need to petition the Probate Court to get permission to perform certain acts (e.g., to sell property) unless powers have been granted.

The heirs may choose at the outset to grant to the administrator the power to perform acts without first seeking court permission. This agreement to a grant of powers must be unanimous. All the heirs must sign and have notarized the Grant of Powers Form on page 4 of Standard Form 3.

If the heirs live in different places, you may make several copies of page 4 and have each heir sign a copy and have the signature notarized and then file all the separate copies.

If the heirs consent to granting powers, notice of the consent must be published in order to give anyone who has a claim against the estate the opportunity to object.

To protect the estate during administration, an administrator is required to post bond and to file certain reports with the Probate Court unless relieved. The heirs may choose to authorize the court to waive the administrator's responsibility to post bond and file reports. This waiver must be unanimous and the heirs must all sign and have notarized the Consent of Heirs to Waiver of Bond on page 4 of Standard Form 3. If the heirs live in different places, you may make several copies of page 4 and have each heir sign a copy and have the signature notarized and file all the separate copies.

If the heirs consent to waiving the requirement of bond, notice of the waiver must be published in order to give anyone who has a claim against the estate the opportunity to object. NOTE: Before the bond can be waived, the court may perform a criminal history background check on the proposed administrator. The administrator may be required to sign a separate form consenting to the background check. The results of this check will generally be kept confidential, but they may be revealed to any attorneys or guardians ad litem who are involved in the process.

If any person believes another person is mentally ill, drug dependent, or alcoholic and poses a danger to himself or others, and a doctor, other qualified licensed or registered professional, or the appropriate judge determines, in accordance with applicable legal standards and procedures, that it is indeed a crisis situation and the risks are both substantial and imminent, then the person is delivered by a sheriff's deputy to a hospital to be evaluated by a physician.

A police officer can make the same determinations as above, following the same standard of danger to oneself or others and can deliver the person directly to a hospital for evaluation if the police officer observes the person committing a crime and has reason to believe the person is a mentally ill, drug dependent, or alcoholic person who is in need of involuntary treatment.

An initial evaluation will be performed within 48 hours of the patient's admission. If the evaluating physician certifies that the patient meets the standards for inpatient treatment, the patient can be kept up to five more days in the hospital against his/her will. If another physician or psychologist along with the chief medical officer of the evaluating facility concur with the evaluating doctor's determination, then the person may be kept in the facility beyond the seven-day period, provided Involuntary Treatment Standards are initiated during that time.

The Probate Court has jurisdiction in any case filed in the county in which the patient resides or is found involving a patient who is age 17 or older. The Juvenile Court has jurisdiction over patients under 17.

There are a few alternatives. First, the community mental health center, hospital, or other emergency receiving or evaluating facility can petition the court to determine whether outpatient treatment should be ordered if a doctor or other qualified licensed or registered professional certifies the need for (and availability of) involuntary outpatient treatment. See the Outpatient Treatment Proceedings.

Secondly, if the person has been certified to need involuntary outpatient treatment by a private physician or other qualified professional not connected with a facility as defined by the code (and the treatment the person needs is available), any interested person may petition the appropriate court for an order that the person receive a full evaluation.

Finally, if the person has not been seen by a qualified professional who is authorized to sign the certifications described herein, the person may apply to the community mental health center where outpatient treatment is provided to conduct a preliminary investigation to determine whether there is probable cause to believe the person is a mentally ill, drug dependent, or alcoholic person in need of involuntary treatment. If such a probable cause finding is made, the center must then petition the court for an order for the person to be evaluated. See the Court-Ordered Evaluation Proceedings.

An inpatient treatment order can remain in effect no longer than six months. An outpatient treatment order is only authorized up to twelve months. Of course, the court could order treatment for a shorter period. Any request to extend involuntary treatment beyond the period would have to be brought by a new petition.

In most counties, the appeal would ordinarily be filed in the Superior Court for that county. In counties in which the probate court is a court of expanded jurisdiction, the appeal would be filed with the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. In any case, the appeal must be filed within thirty days.

Living wills deal with health care and are often confused with living trusts. Georgia is probate friendly; living trusts are often times more costly and confusing. The decision for the creation of a trust should never be undertaken without the advice of an attorney who specializes in probate and estate planning.

Yes and no. Having a will is a start. A will is only one tool used in estate planning and it may be necessary for your estate to have other documents to effectively carry out your desires or to handle your affairs in the event of incapacitation.

Estate planning includes providing for one's care in the time of a medical emergency in both the short term and long term. This can be accomplished through a Power of Attorney and a Durable Health Care Power of Attorney. (See Alternatives to Adult Guardianships.) A well-drawn will and a well-prepared estate will save your family time, money, and a great deal of heartache.

There are ways, especially between a husband and wife, that probate can be avoided. Seeking advice from an attorney that specializes in probate and estate planning can accomplish this goal and allow you to weigh all options in determining if this is the best course of action for you.

W are located at the intersection of Johnson Drive and Lexington Rd, near the Carmike Theater. Exit Loop 10 at exit 8 and turn right. We are 1 block east of Carmike Cinemas. Turn right onto Johnson Drive. There will be a BP Station across the street from the office.

The Victim Impact Panel is held the second Tuesday of each month at the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse (325 E Washington St, Athens, GA) . It is located in State Court on the fifth floor. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. and the program begins promptly at 7:00 p.m. and lasts for approximately one hour. Picture ID is required. A $2.00 cash fee will apply at time of registration.

We are Athens-Clarke County Probation Services and handle all misdemeanor cases within the county. State probation (felony) is located at: 171 Old Epps Bridge Rd. Athens, GA 30601 706-369-6000Turn right off of Broad Street onto Hawthorne Ave and turn behind Walgreens onto Old Epps Bridge Rd

A friend / relative can bring a payment in for a probationer providing it is an acceptable form of payment (money order or cashier’s check) and the probationer’s full name and address is on the payment. Making a payment does not relieve the probationer from having to report to Probation Services.

No. Probation Services does not make any recommendations of required schools such as the Risk Reduction Course which is also known as a DUI school. These are privately owned companies that are certified by the state to teach these classes. Their information can be found in the local phone directory.

Yes. Much of the information can be found on this website. However, if you can't find the information you are seeking, contact us through phone at 706-613-3795 or by email at info@accgov.com and we'll assist you with getting in touch with the right place.

The Public Information Office only provides information about the local Athens-Clarke County government. We do have some contact information about certain state and federal offices in our ACC from A to Z guide. For other questions, contact 800-GEORGIA (state information) and 800-FED-INFO (federal information). ACC from A to Z

The channels that a TV provider carries are up to the individual TV provider, except for limited provisions related to certain locally licensed and local public, education, and government (PEG) channels.

Cable service in Athens-Clarke County is not a granted monopoly. The Cable Ordinance (Chapter 6-16 in the Athens-Clarke County Code) states unequivocally that there is no such thing as an exclusive cable franchise for the community and state that franchises also allow for multiple cable providers. Athens-Clarke County and Georgia can and will review any cable company's local franchise applications to provide competition in the community.

In 2008, a statewide law in Georgia went into effect that allowed companies to apply - if they choose - for a statewide franchise agreement in lieu of multiple local ones. Only Charter and AT&T have applied for statewide video franchises and have notified the local government of intention to provide services in Athens-Clarke County. A full list is available at the Georgia Secretary of State's website.

Additionally, there is no requirement where services must be provided in a community, so it is entirely up to individual companies as to where they provide any services.

To date, no other cable companies have asked Athens-Clarke County for a franchise in Charter's service area, although satellite television providers also provide services without a franchise. The communities around the country that have multiple cable providers tend to be large cities and, even then, overlaps in services areas are rare to nonexistent.

First, you must contact that company's customer service directly (888-GET-CHARTER or online). If that fails to resolve the problem or you have further complaints, please address your concerns to the Athens-Clarke County Public Information Office through email to info@accgov.com or by calling 706-613-3795.

Initially, the procedure stays the same - a customer must first call Charter. If that fails to resolve the issue, a customer can contact the Athens-Clarke County Public Information Office and submit a complaint through the complaint form, an email, or phone call that will be forwarded to our local Charter liaison.

AT&T has a statewide franchise for providing video services in a service area that includes Athens-Clarke County. This service - called U-Verse - has been implemented and has had profound effects on the way that customers can watch public, educational, and government (PEG) channels, such as local channels ACTV Channel180 (Athens-Clarke County Unified Government), Channel 15 (University of Georgia), and Channel 16 (Clarke County School District).

Note that ACTV Channel 180, UGA Channel 15, and Clarke County School District Channel 16 are not currently on AT&T's U-Verse system. AT&T's U-Verse service has caused some concern around the country with how it deals with local public, educational, and government Access (PEG) channels, such as ACTV Channel 180, UGA Channel 15, and Clarke County School District Channel 16 for example. Some of those concerns include:

The grouping of all community PEG channels on channel 99; individual PEG channels cannot be accessed directly

Users must navigate to channel 99, wait for software to load, then select the community and then the channel; the process can take from 20 seconds to over one minute, compared to near instantaneous viewing of all other channels

PEG channels cannot be recorded through U-Verse's recording system (either by scheduling or watching live)

Going from channel 99 to another channel requires 'backing out' instead of simply typing in a channel number directly

Content quality is not delivered at the same quality as other channels

On January 30, 2009, a number of organizations and communities filed with the Federal Communications Commission a "Petition for Declaratory Ruling that AT&T’s Method of Delivering Public, Educational and Government Access Channels Over Its U-verse System is Contrary to the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Applicable Commission Rules."

None of our transmission or distribution lines are lead pipes. Based on institutional knowledge and experience, we have no lead service lines in our system. Athens-Clarke County started using an Ortho-Phosphate blend back in 1991, as a means of corrosion control. Controlling corrosion in lead pipes significantly reduces the possibility of lead leaching into tap water, even in the oldest of homes.To gauge the effectiveness of the corrosion control chemical dosage, quarterly metal coupons (samples) are placed at selected places in our distribution system. At the end of the quarter we remove the coupons and send them to an independent lab which measures the amount of corrosion to the coupons, and the effectiveness of our dosage/treatment.We maintain the pH to between 7.5 and 7.75 to further minimize the possibility of our water being corrosive. pH is a measure of acidity, and the lower the number, the more acidic and corrosive the water is. pH of 7.0 is considered neutral.We have never exceeded EPD Action Levels during decades of sampling.

A stormwater utility fee charges properties in Athens-Clarke based on that property's contribution to the need for stormwater management. The utility uses the amount of impervious surface on a property as the primary basis for the fee. For more information about Stormwater, See the Athens-Clarke County Stormwater Division.

Yes. You can work with a customer service representative to determine what the amount of a normal bill is for you and pay this amount each month. For further customer service, please contact the Water Business Office at 706-613-3500.

If you are more than one billing period delinquent and your bill is not paid by the date due shown on the bill, a late fee of 10% will be added to your balance for each month you are delinquent and your service may be terminated.

If you suspect that your bill is too high, it could be due to leaks in your water system. Water leaks in your home can cost you a lot of money – for example, a toilet leak may waste from 30 to 500 gallons of water per day! Your water meter can be a good detective for finding leaks inside your home. To detect a leak, turn everything off carefully, so no water is being used anywhere in the house. Then look at your meter - if the triangle on your meter is spinning, you have a leak. Check your hose connections, faucets, and toilets. For more information on saving water and money, view Household Water Use Assessment and Be an Efficient Water User.

You only pay for the water that you use, so by using less water you will pay less. With the tiered-rate structure, if you keep your water use within your Winter Average amount (Annual Average for non-residential customers), you will pay the lowest rate and help keep your costs down. For more information on saving water and money, view Household Water Use Assessment and Be an Efficient Water User.

There are fixed costs in operating and maintaining the water and wastewater systems, regardless of how much water is used. Most of the cost to run the system does not decrease when people use less water. The money needed to cover these costs comes only from customers paying for the water they use. When you use less water, the Public Utilities Department does not take in as much money, so rates have to increase to ensure enough revenue.

The tiered rates are designed to be as fair as possible while encouraging water conservation. With tiered rates, the people who use more than their Winter Average amount (Annual Average amount for non-residential customers) of water will pay more.

A Winter Average (WA) is the average amount of water used during December, January, February, and March of the previous year, or 100 gallons a day (based on a two-person household with an average use of 50 gallons a day per person) multiplied by the number of days in the billing cycle, whichever is greater. The minimum winter average is 3,000 gallons for residential customers. For a more detailed explanation, view our rates.

• Turn on the cold water tap at all faucets and run the water until you feel a change in temperature(i.e. the water gets noticeably colder). This may take several minutes. Begin with the faucet that is highest up in your home or building and then open the other faucets one at a time moving from the highest floor to the lowest.

If you do get sick, the symptoms are similar to food poisoning: nausea, diarrhea, cramps, and possibly a mild fever. These symptoms are not unique to exposure to potential contaminants/organisms in the water, and a doctor's involvement is key to identifying the cause of your illness. If your doctor suspects a waterborne illness, you may be asked to provide blood and/or stool samples.

Most germs that infect people do not infect reptiles or fish. If your water system is using more chlorine or changing disinfection, be cautious about changing the water in your fish tank or aquarium. Contact your local pet store or veterinarian for more advice.

Yes. Most of these units are not capable of removing pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. The few that are designed to do so may still require disinfection to address viruses and must be properly operated and diligently maintained to ensure effective treatment.

Installations will begin in August, 2015 and be done in phases. You do not have to be home at the time of installation. If you are home, the installer will notify you in person before installation begins.

The County has hired Neptune Technology Group and UMS to change our meter reading system and install the meters. The workers will wear UMS shirts & badges and be in clearly marked vehicles that identify them as contractors with Athens-Clarke County.

As meters age, they tend to run slower and may not measure all the water going through them. The new meters will record consumption more accurately - depending on the age and accuracy of your existing meter, you might see a change in your bill.

If you notice any problems with the installation, please call our Meter Management Division at 706-613-3479 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For after-hours or weekend emergencies, please call 706-613-3481.

The Federal Government passed the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974, and Georgia adopted these federal standards the same year. In 1977, Georgia passed the Rules for Safe Drinking Water which states:

“A supplier of water or any person having control of facilities which may cause the contamination of public water system has the responsibility to prevent water from unapproved sources or any contaminants from entering the public water system.”

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources; Environmental Protection Division, in 1983 amended this rule and mandated that all public water systems develop Cross Connection Control and/or Backflow Prevention Programs.

Residential homes which are tied into the public water system and have irrigation and/or well system(s) are required to have testable backflow devices installed. Contact Cross Connection Coordinator for information regarding the proper device needed for your property.

Your drinking water comes from three sources: the Bear Creek Reservoir, the North Oconee River, and the Middle Oconee River. By storing water, we make sure that you always have the water you need - even during times of the day when water use in the community is at its highest. Stored water also ensures that water is available at all times for emergencies such as firefighting. We closely monitor the delivery of drinking water, know when demand is changing, and direct water to where it is needed most.

None of our transmission or distribution lines are lead pipes. Based on institutional knowledge and experience, we have no lead service lines in our system. Athens-Clarke County started using an Ortho-Phosphate blend back in 1991, as a means of corrosion control. Controlling corrosion in lead pipes significantly reduces the possibility of lead leaching into tap water, even in the oldest of homes.

To gauge the effectiveness of the corrosion control chemical dosage, quarterly metal coupons (samples) are placed at selected places in our distribution system. At the end of the quarter we remove the coupons and send them to an independent lab which measures the amount of corrosion to the coupons, and the effectiveness of our dosage/treatment.

We maintain the pH to between 7.5 and 7.75 to further minimize the possibility of our water being corrosive. pH is a measure of acidity, and the lower the number, the more acidic and corrosive the water is. pH of 7.0 is considered neutral.

We routinely collect and test water samples at many points before it reaches your tap - at the rivers and the Bear Creek Reservoir, at the water treatment plant, and in the distribution system. The Water Laboratory reports test results to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD). Our laboratory technicians are state certified and must pass proficiency tests twice a year. See our Water Quality Report for more information.

The short answer is Georgia law 391-3-5-.16 states that all potable water supplies in incorporated communities and counties lying wholly within this State must be fluoridated. Athens-Clarke County has put together a fact sheet regarding fluoridation of the water within our county. Copy and paste this link into your browser to access this information: http://www.athensclarkecounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/27083

Many people take for granted the simple act of turning on a faucet and getting a cold glass of water. Discover how the drinking water supply is treated before being piped to 40,000 Athens-Clarke County homes and business. Visitors of our tours learn about the coagulation, flocculation, filtration, and sterilization processes our drinking water must go through before distribution. Visitors see chemistry in action when they tour the drinking water and wastewater testing lab. The tour encourages an appreciation for our precious resource and inspires the adoption of conservation measures to protect our waters.

The Cedar Creek Water Reclamation Facility is a fascinating example of how far we have come in the treatment of sewage. New technology incorporating biological and UV treatments allow us to "reclaim" the water from the waste before returning it safely to the environment. Visitors are surprised to discover carbon scrubbers on site that clean the foul odors traditionally associated with sewage. Opportunities to see microorganisms at work are numerous as the "bugs" consume the organic materials in aerobic and anoxic basins. Come see how this new technology has enhanced the field of wastewater treatment.

We have several ways to schedule a tour. 1) Click on the link below to schedule a tour online. 2) Email a request to savewater@accgov.com. 3) Contact the Water Conservation Office at 706-613-3729. We will respond to your request within five business days.

Tours are available March through November. The tour is outside, so tours are not recommended December through February. Tours can be scheduled Monday through Friday, but we recommend large school groups plan to visit Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Weekend tours depend upon the availability of a tour leader.

Small groups should plan for the tour of the Drinking Water Treatment Plant or Water Reclamation Facility to last about an hour. Large school groups visiting the Drinking Water Treatment Plant should plan for two hours. In addition to a tour of the Drinking Water Treatment Plant, large school groups will receive an educational program. Large school groups visiting the Water Reclamation Facility should plan for about an hour and a half. Additional educational programs are currently unavailable for the Water Reclamation Facility tours.

Safety and content of the tours were taken into consideration for these age recommendations. The Drinking Water Treatment Plant is recommended for children aged eight (3rd grade) and up. Tours of the Water Reclamation Facility are recommended for those aged ten (4th grade) and up. Tours to the Drinking Water Treatment Plant are recommended for 3rd grade school groups. Programs focus on water conservation and correlate with Georgia Performance Third Grade Standards.Tours to the Water Reclamation Facility are recommended for 4th or 5th grade school groups. Tours include discussion of decomposers and microorganisms at work and correlate with Georgia Performance Standards for fourth and fifth grades.

To ensure that a safe and educational experience is had by all, we must limit the group size visiting our facilities. Both the Drinking Water Treatment Plant and Water Reclamation Facility can comfortably accommodate up to 60 at one time. Large groups will be divided at the start of your visit. Those visiting the Drinking Water Treatment Plant will be divided into four groups and those at the Water Reclamation Facility will be divided into three groups. If you are bringing a group of more than 20, please arrive prepared to divide your group.

We suggest at least one chaperone for every 10 students. However, there is no limit to the number of chaperones you may bring. Chaperones are expected to stay with their groups at all times, keep groups together and engaged, ensure safety, and maintain discipline. Both locations are working facilities and can be hazardous, therefore, it is important students are closely supervised during the tour.

Tours at the Drinking Water Treatment Plant and Water Reclamation Facility are conducted outside. In the event of rain, a field trip must be rescheduled. The Water Conservation Office will contact your group as soon as possible in the event of cancellation.

Tours to both locations are primarily outdoors and involve a good bit of walking. Please dress comfortably and appropriately for the weather. No heels or open-toed shoes are to be worn on the tours. The tours require walking across grated areas and heels or toes can easily catch in the grates and cause injury.

Neither the Drinking Water Treatment Plant nor Water Reclamation Facility is equipped to handle large groups for lunch. However, both facilities are only a short drive to Athens-Clarke County parks offering picnic areas. Memorial Park is a good choice for those visiting the Drinking Water Treatment Plant. Please contact 706-613-3580 to reserve a pavilion. For those who tour the Water Reclamation Facility, Southeast Clarke Park's World of Wonder Playground offers a conveniently located pavilion for groups to eat. Please contact 706-613-3871. Both parks request at least two weeks advance notice if you plan to bring a large group for lunch.

Programs are currently available on-site for the Drinking Water Treatment Plant only. Large school groups visiting the Drinking Water Treatment Plant automatically receive a program along with the tour. Please visit our program menu to see our program choices or ask us to recommend one appropriate for your group. If you have a particular topic of interest, please indicate so when requesting a tour.

Through funding raised by Athens-Clarke County Green School Programs, assistance is available for transportation costs to our sites for Athens-Clarke County schools. The financial assistance applies to costs associated with a bus driver's hours and mileage from the bus depot to school, school to our site, site to your school, and school to bus depot. We cannot assist with costs incurred for additional mileage or bus driver hours if the school group visits other locations (e.g. visit a park for lunch). Please contact the Water Conservation Office for more details. A copy of the transportation invoice received by the individual Athens-Clarke County School should be sent to the ACC Water Conservation Office, 124 E. Hancock Ave, Athens, GA 30601 to receive assistance following the field trip.

If you are running late for your scheduled tour to the Drinking Water Treatment Plant, please call 706-613-3481.If you are running late for your scheduled tour to the Water Reclamation Facility, please call 706-613-3488.If you need to cancel your tour, please call the Water Conservation office at 706-613-3729.

The Drinking Water Treatment Plant has a large restroom area. School groups taking a tour and receiving a program will have a restroom break halfway through the visit. The Water Reclamation Facility has one small restroom.

The Bob Snipes Water Resources Center and JG Beacham Drinking Water Treatment Plant are located at 780 Barber Street, Athens, GA 30601. Tour groups meet in the Water Resource Building. Parking is available in the parking lot of the Water Resources Center. Buses may drop school groups off in the parking lot and park along the street.

The Cedar Creek Water Reclamation Facility is located at 4100 Barnett Shoals Road, Athens, GA 30605. Upon entering the gate, continue a mile down the road until passing another fence. Turn left and park in front of the building with a parking lot or along the grass if parking is unavailable. Buses should park along the grass.

If you pay a sewer charge on your water bill, you are on a sewer system. If not, you should be on a septic system. To confirm, contact the Clarke County Health Department's Environmental Health Section at 706-583-2658 or 706-583-2658.

On average, around every 3-5 years. However, the real timeframe varies and depends on your water use, the size of the tank, the number of people in the house, and types of appliances in use such as garbage disposals or washing machines.

There are a variety of opinions on this (as well as a variety of additives). It has not been proven that additives assist in the effectiveness of septic system operation. A properly functioning and maintained one does not need additives. If you do decide to use additives, note that you will still need to have your tank inspected and pumped regularly.

Less expensive than waiting for one to fail! Barring any other problems, it should cost a few hundred dollars to have a tank pumped. When pricing an inspection and pumping, beware of low-ball figures that add costs later such as extra hoses once they are on site. Get a few quotes and ask about what additional charges may be incurred.

The inmate must be processed through intake and the orientation unit and placed in a housing unit before theycan have visitors. This may be up to 72 hours from the time they are booked into the jail. Visitors must register to visit on each visiting day within the following time periods:

Inmate Workers shall be allowed to have contact visits according to the schedule below. Contact visits shall beconducted in the Central Programs Classroom Visitors should arrive 15 minutes before visitation beginsto register. Inmate worker visitors may visit for the 1 hour visitation period.

Male Workers: Saturday - 1 :00 - 2:00 p.m.

Female Workers: Sunday - 1 :00 - 2:00 p.m.

** NOTE ** The inmate must be processed through intake and the orientation unit and placed in a housing unit before they can have visitors. This may be up to 72 hours from the time they are booked into the jail.

You must go through a security checkpoint when entering the Clarke County Courthouse. All persons are subject to search by the deputy on duty. Please follow the instructions of the deputy and remove all items from your pockets and place them in the trays provided, or in a personal carrying case / purse to be screened.

All attorney and professional visitors must provide and display valid photo identification to gain entrance to the jail. Attorneys must show their Georgia bar card, or in the case of attorney staff, legal aid staff or students, an ID from that organization or a listing on formal correspondence from the organization. Professional visitors must display photo identification from their agency or organization.

Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 35-1-19 in the Code of Georgia , neither the Clarke County County Sheriff's Office nor the Athens-Clarke County Police Department post booking photographs (commonly referred to as mugshots) online as of July 1, 2014.

Based on your address, an Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Customer Service Representative can deliver it to you. If you are not an ACC Solid Waste customer, contact your garbage collector. For more information or clarification, contact Solid Waste at 706-613-3501.

The Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Department collects in the downtown district and Urban Service District, which encompasses the old Athens city limits. Anything beyond these areas is serviced by an outside company.

A collection bin is located at the Athens-Clarke County Materials Recycling Facility at 699 Hancock Industrial Way. Drop off your items Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In addition, you can take your used grease to the CHaRM 1005 College Avenue, Monday & Wednesday 10 AM - 7 PM and Saturday 8 AM - 12 PM.

The CHaRM (1005 College Ave.) accepts these bulbs during normal business hours. Monday and Wednesday 10 AM - 7 PM and Saturday 8AM - 12 PM. They are also recycled at The Home Depot and Lowes.*for large quantities, fees may apply

Yes, egg cartons, meat trays, and block styrofoam found around many items can be taken to Publix Supermarket. There are bins out front for small items; larger pieces can be taken to the Customer Service Desk. We also accept styrofoam at the CHaRM (1005 College Avenue) Monday & Wednesday 10 AM - 7 PM & Saturday 8 AM - 12 PM.

No, the bags pose a litter issue and become contaminated when mixed with other plastics that can drip (like soda cans or vegetable cans). Take bags back to any area Publix, Kroger, Piggly Wiggly, EarthFare, Walmart, Target, Ingles, Daily Co-Op, or the Athens-Clarke County Recycling Facility.

You can take old T.V.s to the CHaRM (1005 College Ave) Monday & Wednesday 10 AM - 7 PM & Saturday 8 AM - 12 PM. *Fees may vary. Best Buy will recycle electronics for free and will recycle TVs under 32 inches for a $10 fee, which will be refunded in the form of a $10 Best Buy gift card.

No, take these broken items to the Athens-Clarke County Landfill Electronics section for free. You can also take those items to the CHaRM (1005 College Ave) Monday & Wednesday 10 AM - 7 PM & Saturday 8 AM - 12 PM. *For large quantities, fees may apply.

If it is in clear bags that are clearly marked "RECYCLABLES", then it will be collected. If in black or white bags, they will be mistake for trash and you will be charged additional collection fees. The preferred method for extra recycles is loose in another bin or cart.

Yes, according to Solid Waste Policy SW-004, all private haulers must collect single stream and accept the same items as within the USD. All of Athens-Clarke County will recycle in the same collection manner and the same items. Most private haulers have already started single stream recycling.

For now, the same day it is currently collected if you live in the Urban Service District. Contact your private haulers for your pick-up schedule. Some private haulers (Republic) are moving to bi-weekly collection in the GSD.

Shredded paper can no longer be collected at the curb or at drop-off sites. It is too small for the new single stream processing facility equipment to sort and the pieces get wet and stick to the glass bottles and/or jars. Shredded paper can be directly dropped off at the ACC Recycling Facility & CHaRM in paper bags, boxes or a clear plastic bags for recycling. There will be two shred events per year for our residents to shred and bring shredded paper.

No. A simple cardboard box can work perfectly for years. ACC can provide a recycling sticker to identify it as a recycling container, and if it gets mangled, you can always recycle the box. In fact, copier paper boxes are ideal recycling bins; you can even cut a hole in the lid and have a child decorate it.

No. The intent of the ordinance is to provide a collection system. We are not forcing anyone to participate by actively recycling material; the ordinance is there so people who want to recycle are able to. We get a lot of calls from people who want to recycle, but don’t have convenient access to recycling bins.

Generally, whoever pays the garbage service bill is responsible for complying with the ordinance. If the service you’re paying for is for you and the occupants of your home, the ordinance will not apply to you. If you pay the bill on behalf of tenants in your property, the ordinance does apply.

Yes. Businesses that are run from your primary residence are exempt, but otherwise businesses must submit a plan that ensures compliance with the ordinance. It is perfectly acceptable to take your collected trash and recyclables home with you, or take you recyclables to any of the 11 convenience centers located throughout Clarke County. However, these activities should be documented on the Recycling Plan Form.

Your garbage company probably doesn’t pay for trash cans inside your home or business either. Check to see if your hauler will assist with your recycling program. ACC Solid Waste, Recycling Division can provide the familiar 18-gallon open-top bins used for residential curbside recycling collection. These are useful for transporting material to a large outside container and can be used as collection containers in some settings; however these are used bins that have been stored outside. ACC Recycling Division can also provide stickers that can be used to convert most containers (or cardboard boxes) into a useful recycling container.

Yes. In most cases, the entity currently paying for waste collection services will be responsible for paying for recycling collection services. However, each business is responsible for completing a recycling plan.

Check with your current waste hauler. All of the haulers operating in Athens-Clarke County are familiar with the requirements, and should be able to assist. Shop around to get the service that best suits your needs.

Lots:• ACC staff can help you determine your recycling collection needs, regardless of who your existing waste hauler is. We can visit your business, conduct a waste audit, and suggest a service level and type and quantity of collection containers. • ACC can provide stickers (English and Spanish language) to distinguish recycling containers from garbage containers, and detailed instructions on what can and cannot be recycled in ACC’s single-stream collection process.• Staff can conduct trainings and presentations for employees and tenants• Staff can conduct tours of the ACC Materials Recycling Facility

We do not pick up bagged dirt or soil, stumps, flower pots, garbage, rocks, food, logs, and tools. The Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Department only collects leaf and limb debris that a property owner has generated. Individuals or companies under contract by the property owner to collect leaves and/or trim limbs must haul and dispose of the debris themselves (i.e., tree surgeons, utility companies, yard maintenance companies, etc.). This is per Solid Waste Ordinance Sec. 5-2-7.d Leaf and limb service--General Service District.

Place leaves and limbs out no later than 8:00 a.m. on the Monday of your pick-up week. Put leaves, grass, weeds, etc., in paper lawn bags and place at the curb. Stack limbs, brush, and small branches in a pile at the curb. Per Athens-Clarke County Ordinance, residents cannot place leaf and limb debris at the curb [public right-of-way] more than 10 calendar days prior to the Monday of the pick-up week.

Pick-ups are once every six weeks and may be altered by major weather events and staffing and/or truck maintenance issues. You must have your leaf and limb debris out by 8:00 a.m. on the Monday of your pick-up week. Find your pick-up week on the leaf and limb webpage or by calling 706-613-3501, and if using a touchtone phone, press 451 to hear a recording of the schedule. A printed schedule is available at the Athens-Clarke County Water business office, Athens-Clarke County City Hall, or Athens-Clarke County Regional Library. You may also contact the Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Department at 706-613-3501, and a schedule can be mailed or emailed to you.

The material is chipped into mulch at the Athens-Clarke County Landfill. Currently, the mulch is being used as the carbon source (brown) for composting operations at the landfill. Compost can be purchased at the ACC Landfill for $12/cubic yard from Monday - Saturday 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM.

Simply put – single stream recycling collection means that ALL acceptable recyclables in ACC can be collected mixed together in one container and collected by one truck. This DOES NOT mean that trash is mixed with recyclables.

Most area grocery stores and some chain retail stores such as Target and Walmart offer plastic bag collection bins at their entrance or exit point. They can also be dropped off at our CHaRM site. An additional collection bin is located at the ACC Recycling Facility next to the single stream recycling dumpster. Plastic bags CAN NOT be recycled in curbside roll-carts or at drop off locations.

Smaller pieces of paper stick to other materials and/or blow around and make a mess. Shredded documents can be dropped off at the ACC Recycling Facility, 699 Hancock Industrial Way, the CHaRM, 1005 College Ave, or at the ACC Human Resources Office at Satula Avenue and Boulevard. All locations have a large dumpster labeled for shredded paper only. Shredded paper should be in a clear plastic bag, or a box. Also, there will be 2 residential shred collection events per year sponsored by the ACC Recycling Division and the Lindsay Group with a rotating location between the Georgia Square Mall and the ACC CHaRM.

For customers who live in the Urban Service District, it will be collected on the same day as garbage. Contact your private hauler for your pick-up schedule, as some private haulers have bi-weekly collection.

Applaud yourself for being a super recycler! Then, put any extra recyclables in a container clearly marked “RECYCLABLES”, preferably a box. If you must bag them, make sure the bag is CLEAR so it is not confused as trash. Overflow trash costs, make sure collection crews know it is recyclables and not trash.

If you are an avid recycler, we added the 20/25 gallon trash roll-cart just for you! Contact your hauler today and ask about this cart size. NOTE: The 20/25 gallon trash roll-cart will need to be provided by you, the customer and can be purchased at Lowe's or Home Depot. The ACC Solid Waste Department will provide a sticker to indicate the 20/25 gallon size.

No. Most feed bags for pets and livestock are made of woven Polypropylene plastic (PP, or #5 plastic) and often carry the recycling symbol. While we accept #5 cups and containers, we cannot accept the #5 bags, for the same reason we cannot accept any film plastic bag, shrink-wrap, bubble-wrap etc. - when processed, the stretchy plastic gets wrapped around the sorting equipment. Even paper feed bags usually have a plastic liner that makes them unrecyclable in the Athens single-stream process. The only large bags we can process are those made ONLY of paper, like a charcoal bag or empty lawn/leaf refuse bag. If your large bag tears easily with no stretching, it can be included for recycling.

In many communities, a Waste Minimization, Education or Franchise Fees are fees levied upon solid waste service providers (both public and private) to help defray the cost of the waste reduction programs in their community. Regardless of the name, these fees are typically used to help local governments fund waste reduction infrastructure and education. The ACCUG Waste Minimization Fee was approved in Oct., 2011 and is used to defray costs associated with program management of the waste reduction goals approved by the Mayor and Commission.

The ACCUG Waste Minimization Fee is collected quarterly from the franchised solid waste service providers, both public and private, in the USD and GSD for both residential and commercial customers. The fee is $0.60/month/residential unit and $1.60/month/commercial entity and is shown as a separate line item on the garbage bill.

A group of 22 citizens, the SPLOST 2011 Citizens Advisory Committee is responsible for recommending a list of candidate projects for adoption by the Mayor and Commission. View a list of committee members.

You should contact the court reporter. The court reporter for Judge Lawrence is Kathy Wiggins, whose telephone number is 706-543-2925. The court reporter for Judge Simpson is Ann Evans, whose telephone number is 706-769-3260.

Stormwater is any water that originates from precipitation, like rain or snowmelt. Stormwater can soak into soil or evaporate, but in urban areas, most stormwater turns into runoff because of the large amounts of impervious surface. Federal laws regulating stormwater runoff require Athens-Clarke County to reevaluate the way it manages the water that runs off impervious surfaces such as concrete, asphalt, or rooftops. Stormwater runoff carries pollutants directly to our streams and rivers, creating flooding issues and contaminating our local waterways.

The Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission voted to create a stormwater utility fee in December 2004. The utility fee raises the revenues needed to fund Athens-Clarke's Stormwater Management Program. This program brings us into compliance with federal regulations and safeguards our community through improved drainage and protection of local waterways.

The stormwater utility fee charges properties in Athens-Clarke County based on that property's contribution to the need for stormwater management. The utility uses the amount of impervious surface, or surface that water is unable to soak into, on a property as the primary basis for the fee. This user-fee system represents a way to raise revenue for the program by charging those who directly contribute to its need. This method presents our community with an alternative to an across-the-board tax hike.

The stormwater utility is a user fee, much like the fee that you pay for your water utility or sanitation service. Users of these services are charged based on the demand they place on the system. The stormwater that flows off your property places demand on a vast system of infrastructure which is costly to operate and maintain. Stormwater must be channeled through a system of pipes and other devices before it can be safely discharged into local rivers, lakes, and streams.

All property owners in Athens-Clarke pay the stormwater utility fee. This includes residential homeowners, churches, nonprofit organizations, UGA, and commercial property owners. Undeveloped land does not have any impervious surfaces, so it is not charged a stormwater fee.

The stormwater utility bill is structured to be paid by the property owner, who might not be the same person who receives the water bill. Property owners make decisions about how the stormwater from their property is managed. In Athens-Clarke County, nearly 50% of properties are occupied by someone other than the owner. Typically, the occupant receives the monthly water bill but it would be inappropriate for a tenant to receive the stormwater utility fee as well.

There are approximately 1,500 municipalities across the country that have developed utilities to fund their stormwater management programs. Including Athens-Clarke County, more than 60 communities in Georgia have user fees that fund stormwater services. These communities include Columbia County, the City of Covington, the City of Decatur, DeKalb County, Douglasville-Douglas County, the City of Fayetteville, Gilmer County, the City of Griffin, and the City of Smyrna.

Yes. It is difficult for water to soak into a packed gravel surface. Once gravel is compacted, from cars or heavy equipment, for example, surface water runs off of it much like a paved surface. The gravel may slow the flow of water from the area, but nearly the same amount of runoff will flow from the area under the gravel as if the gravel was not there. Many flat roofs are covered with gravel, but they still shed the rainwater that falls on them. In addition, if cars or heavy equipment are traveling on these gravel surfaces; runoff typically carries pollutants like metals or petroleum into our waterways.

Stormwater utility bills are based on the amount of impervious surface that is present on the property. The impervious surface is now calculated from 2013 aerial images of every property in the county. If you believe that the area of impervious surface has been calculated incorrectly or has changed since the 2013 images were produced, please contact the Stormwater Management Program at 706-613-3440 or email stormwater@accgov.com.

Stormwater credits are given to properties with installed and maintained stormwater systems that meet the requirements of the Athens-Clarke stormwater management ordinance and the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual. Stormwater ponds, wetlands, infiltration trenches, and other management systems reduce the velocity or rate of the runoff or clean up the pollutants found in stormwater. When properly maintained and installed, these systems can qualify for a reduction in fee for the property that they serve.

While property owners can't control the rain, they can ensure that their property is developed in such a way that lessens the demand placed on the stormwater system. A system of credits reduces the fee for commercial properties with specially designed systems such as detention ponds or infiltration trenches that manage stormwater runoff. The utility credits may reduce the quantity or quality charges on your stormwater bill. The base charge on your bill is not eligible for reduction. To be eligible for a credit, a property must meet the criteria set in the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual. To view and print the Adjustment Review Request, visit the "Utility Credits" page on our website.

Athens-Clarke County Stormwater offers free rain barrel workshops for the public every fall and spring. To make sure you never miss a workshop, sign up for the Stormwater Education calendar or newsflash. We always post upcoming workshops on the calendar and in our monthly newsletter. If you have any questions or would like to make a container donation, contact us at stormwater@accgov.com.

To determine your eligibility please contact the Felony Drug Court coordinator at 706-208-7078. All persons interested in the Felony Drug Court must have an attorney of record, must be legally qualified for the program (no sexual offenses or violent offenses), and must be clinically eligible for the program.

Please contact the Felony Drug Court coordinator to set up a clinical assessment. The clinical assessment can be performed at the jail (if the individual is in custody) or will otherwise be performed at the Felony Drug Court Office in the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse, located at: 325 E. Washington St. Suite 210 Athens, GA 30601

The Felony Drug Court Program is $150 per month. This pays for all group and individual counseling and drug testing. If you have financial concerns but are able to work, please mention this to the Felony Drug Court coordinator when you meet for the clinical assessment (payment plans and alternative arrangements may be available).

Every medication (prescription and over-the-counter) must be reported to the Felony Drug Court Office at the time of the clinical assessment/prior to entering the Felony Drug Court Program. Not every medication prescribed, even if prescribed legally to you by your doctor, may be taken while in the Felony Drug Court Program. These medications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and you will be expected to sign a release to your prescribing doctor for open discussion of your substance use history. The Felony Drug Court Program is an abstinence-based program which means that medications with the potential to become addictive cannot be taken while in the program. Please review the Participant List of Prohibited Drugs in the Felony Drug Court Participant Handbook for more information or contact the Felony Drug Court Program directly.

Please contact your probation office to determine your probation requirements. The State Probation Office (felony probation) is located at 171 Old Epps Bridge Road. You can also contact them by telephone at 706-369-6000. The County Probation Office (misdemeanor probation) is located at 1720 Lexington Road. You may also contact them at 706-613-3911.

There are two tracks of treatment in the Felony Drug Court Program. Which track the participant will follow is decided prior to the entry of their plea into the Felony Drug Court Program since the track is based on legal and clinical recommendations. Track 1 is 17 to 24 months long; Track 2 is a minimum of 12 months long. Regardless of the track, there are five phases that a participant must go through in order to complete the Felony Drug Court Program. Each phase is based on a minimum amount of time, but a phase may take more time if your counselor recommends you stay in a phase for longer or if you violate the rules of the program.

There are five phases in the Felony Drug Court Program, and everyone must go through all five phases in order to successfully complete the program. The program requirements are like a stair step where there are more requirements at the start of the program than at the end. Everyone must attend an individual counseling session (once a week when you first start Felony Drug Court, to once a month when you near the end of Felony Drug Court), group counseling (in the evenings after 5:00 p.m. and/or on Saturday mornings), and drug court (a separate court session with other drug court participants on the first and third Thursday of every month at 5:00 p.m.). Those in the lower phases must also attend check-in (a separate time to drug test, turn in meetings, ask questions, and check in with drug court) on the second and fourth Thursday of every month at 5:00 p.m. Everyone must also attend a 12-step meeting of their choice on the day and time of their choice. The average time commitment in Phase I is seven to nine hours while the average time commitment in Phase V is three to four hours.

Felony Drug Court requirements exist year-round. While we try to keep our group meetings, appointments, and court in the evenings or on the weekends, there may be conflicts that arise. Drug court attendance is not excused, however. Work and classes are expected to be scheduled around drug court obligations.

If you want to travel or vacation while in felony drug court you must first be complying with all the rules, must complete a Participant Leave Request Form to submit to the Felony Drug Court coordinator at least two weeks in advance of travel, and must be approved to travel by the drug court team and judge.

Each person’s case is different. When you enter into the Felony Drug Court Program the disposition (outcome) in your case has already been decided and agreed upon. If you are terminated from the program, then your original case will go before Judge Stephens and you will be sentenced on the original charges as if you never had participated in the Felony Drug Court Program. If a dismissal was agreed upon in your case prior to entering Felony Drug Court, then that dismissal will be granted when you successfully complete and graduate from Felony Drug Court.

Please contact the attorney that represented you when entering into Felony Drug Court to learn what your drug court agreement was.

No. Please retain an attorney to address your legal matter. The Public Defender's Office also provides legal representation for those who are qualified. Please contact the Public Defender's Office at 706-369-6440 for more information.

Please contact the Public Defender’s Office to schedule an appointment and determine if you qualify for legal representation. The Public Defender’s Office is located at:160 E. Washington St.Athens, GA 30601

The judge cannot have separate communication about cases outside of the courtroom without all parties represented in the case present. Please contact your attorney of record to discuss your legal case.

A treatment and accountability court, sometimes called a mental health court, is not actually a separate court. It is a specialized court docket, or calendar, in which participants receive ongoing treatment for their mental illness while being closely monitored by local mental health providers, probation officers, and the court. It is a collaborative program involving representatives from the court, mental health providers, prosecutors, public defenders, and community advocates, all working toward providing treatment and restoring the individual to a crime-free life.

Chronically Incarcerated Individuals: Data from 2010 for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development show that approximately 21% of the nation's jail inmates have a recent history of a mental health condition. Many individuals experience frequent and routine jail stays for low-level criminal behavior caused by mental health issues that impede their daily functioning. From 2000 to 2008, one such individual spent an average of 223 days per year in the Athens-Clarke County Jail at a cost of approximately $10,000 per year (nearly $80,000 total). While in jail, the individual was only able to receive basic medical care. Today, this individual would be eligible for TAC participation, and would be closely supervised and receive targeted mental health treatment while living in the community.

Individuals with Co-occurring Substance Abuse: A recent snapshot of a felony drug court indicates that as many as 40% of the participants have a diagnosable mental health condition, although most are not receiving treatment. Further estimates from the National GAINS Center note that as many as 72% of those diagnosed with mental illness also have a co-occurring substance abuse disorder.

Homeless Individuals: Data from 2010 for HUD show that an estimated 46% of the nation's homeless adult population live with severe mental illness and/or substance abuse disorders. These individuals often experience longstanding housing instability and repeat involvement with the criminal justice system.

Individuals involved with Civil Commitment and Mental Incompetency Proceedings: Changes in Georgia law now allow the state to release individuals referred to state hospitals for reasons of mental incompetency, provided they meet minimal levels of stabilization. The referring court is held responsible for monitoring such individuals in community-based treatment.

The Athens-Clarke County Jail currently has more than 450 inmates. Based on HUD's finding, there are more than 90 people in need of treatment in the Athens-Clarke County Jail at any one time. At the last county homeless count, over 120 of 475 homeless individuals, or approximately 25%, had severe mental illness, and nearly all of these had some interaction with the criminal justice system. Fewer mental health services are available locally each year, further disconnecting those in need. A downward spiral often occurs, which eventually leads these individuals into the criminal justice system.

There are over 25 mental health courts in the state at various levels in the court system, compared to over 60 drug courts. For example, there are mental health court programs in Atlanta (Fulton), Decatur (DeKalb), Gainesville (Hall), Columbus (Muscogee), Savannah (Chatham), and Macon (Bibb). Many have been established within the last five years, although some have been operating for ten years or more. Albany, Georgia, in Dougherty County is a national learning site.

Law librarians work primarily with the courts, mostly superior court judges, and assist the judges and attorneys in finding cases and statues pertaining to whatever issues come before them. Duties include maintaining an inventory of the law library, and writing memorandums that will help the judges determine fair and just resolutions.

Statutory laws are enactments of law by legislatures, such as the Georgia General Assembly or Congress. They start as bills when introduced by a legislator and become law when signed by a governor on the state level, or the President on the federal level.

Case law, also called common law, is not legislative law. Case law is law derived from the courts and is based on principles of law, reason, and common sense. Courts use case law to interpret statutes and the federal and state constitutions and to balance the scales of justice between parties in civil cases as well as criminal cases.

Generally, law refers to rules enacted by legislatures, handed down by courts, or derived from local customs that guide our conduct and way of life. Equity was another body of law that developed in England to compensate remedies according to doctrines and principles of fairness not found in the statutes or the common law.

In Georgia, law and equity have merged, but one can file an action in equity or at law depending on the circumstances. Contract actions, debtor-creditor actions, and some domestic relations cases may require equitable relief. Injunctive relief is also equitable. For advice as to whether an action is legal or equitable, please consult an attorney.

The American Association of Law Libraries provides information on new products, technology, and job listings for other law librarians. This association promotes the value of law librarians to the legal community and the public.

The sustainability plan is a long-term communitywide plan that details how we will reduce our environmental impact, grow the economy, and improve the community in which we live. The purpose of this plan is to provide both a big picture vision of where the community is headed in specific goal areas and to identify specific steps that are needed to advance an individual goal. To provide a more complete picture, we are also highlighting big-picture successes our community has accomplished in the pursuit of these goals.

The Mayor and Commission strategic goals and objectives directed staff to “Work with community environmental and transportation groups and Unified Government staff, to define the major components of a sustainability plan and identify benchmarks for success.” Much like how Bike/Pedestrian Master Plan will be very detailed in addressing transportation issues, the sustainability plan provides us with an opportunity to take a closer look at items critical to sustaining our environment.

There are a couple of things that set this process apart from other ongoing efforts. They include:

Timeline - To be bold in our visioning, many of our draft goals have a 2050 target date. This is substantially longer than other community planning efforts. The draft sustainability plan also includes a short-term actions list that describes what steps are needed over the next five years to make progress towards a given goal. Some of these actions are much more specific than those covered in other plans.

Scope – As a result of the project charge, items related to transportation, infrastructure, and the environment are very detailed in the sustainability plan. While the comprehensive plan may address items related to the environment and agriculture, the sustainability plan is proposed to have six different chapters that work within this space. Alternatively, items like arts, culture, and education are not proposed to be standalone chapters in the draft sustainability plan.

Framework – By documenting previous efforts and starting our development with subject stakeholders, we aim to provide context for each goal and its associated actions. By doing so, we hope to provide a more complete vision of where we are and where we are going. We believe this will be more targeted in our citizen engagement than if the process started with open ended questions like “what would you like to see…..”.

They remain in effect and are important to guiding our community’s progress. Existing plans like the Greenway Network Plan and the Workforce Housing Study are guiding documents for the development of the sustainability plan. Whenever possible, we have cross-referenced back to these plans. Ongoing plans like Envision Athens, the Bike/Pedestrian Master Plan, and the Downtown Health and Safety Study are more broadly referenced in the sustainability plan. We believe the greatest success is likely to be found where these plans have overlapping recommendations that emerge from their different approaches.

So far, Athens-Clarke County staff from 15 different departments have invested over 1,400 hours reviewing other plans, national best practices, and current progress within the community. They have used this information to draft 64 long-term goals and approximately 650 actions to be completed within the next five years. We now need additional ideas and input to make this plan more complete in its design.

The staff effort so far is just the first step. Because we work so closely with these subject areas, we recognize our community can't be successful in these areas without the contributions of our non-profits, businesses, volunteers, and citizens.

Through the spring and summer of 2018, we will engage with community stakeholders on the eleven subject areas. Following this input, we will compile and refine feedback to develop a plan that more broadly describes the contributions of stakeholders across the community. Ultimately, this compiled data will be converted to a narrative format and shared with the public for additional feedback and editing. It will take up to a year to complete this process.

Any principal balance that remains unpaid after the due date will accrue interest each month as prescribed by law. A 5% penalty will be assessed on any remaining principal balance 120 days after the due date and each 120 days thereafter not to exceed 20% for the tax year.

TAVT is the title tax due on vehicle purchased on or after March 1, 2013. This tax replaces the annual motor vehicle ad valorem tax and the sales tax that is collected by dealers on motor vehicle sales for new purchases. House Bill 386 was passed by the 2012 General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal eliminating what everyone so fondly referred to as the “Birthday Tax”. TAVT affects newly purchased vehicles and is due each time a titled vehicle is transferred to a new owner.

Get your driveway or parking permit right here at the Transportation and Public Works Department. Please call us at 706-613-3440 to make sure you have what you need to apply for your permit. You may also get directions to our offices at 120 West Dougherty Street. We are located on the bottom floor.

Call the Athens-Clarke County Streets and Drainage Division at 706-613-3465 for potholes on a public street. We will issue a work order and go out to fix the problem as soon as possible. If the pothole is on a privately owned street or parking lot, contact the property owner or property management company to have it repaired.

We highly recommend not placing your dumpster in the right of way unless there is no alternative. In order to encroach in the right of way, you need to first apply for a Right of Way Encroachment Permit. You must complete the application and submit it with a drawing of how you will encroach the right of way. The application fee is $60. Your application will be looked at within 1-2 days, depending on the permit supervisor's schedule.

Please bring your documents and payment to 120 West Dougherty Street (lower level), Athens, GA. Call us at 706-613-3440 if you have any questions.

Any time that you are working within the ACC right of way. If you need to work within the right of way, please fill out a permit application, submit a drawing of proposed work within the right of way as well as the $60.00 cash or check permitting fee. Permit Application

Yes, Athens-Clarke County does pick up dead animals in the street or on the right of way. If the animal is not in the street or on the right of way, it is the citizen's responsibility. For dead animals in the right of way in the Urban Service District (inside the former Athens City limits) contact the Solid Waste Department at 706-613-3501. For dead animals in the right of way in the Rural Service District (outside the former Athens City limits) contact the Streets & Drainage Division at 706-613-3465.

Dead animals that are located on a State Highway in Athens-Clarke County will be picked up by the Georgia Department of Transportation, please contact them at 706-583-2644.

To report a tree blocking part or all of a street during normal working hours (Monday - Friday 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM excluding holidays), please call the Landscape Management Division at 706-613-3561. After hours please call the Athens-Clarke County Police Department at 706-546-5900.

For flooding due to construction, your first contact should be the Transportation and Public Works Department / Engineering Division 706-613-3440 ext 350.

For flooding in the right of way, your first contact should be the Transportation and Public Works / Streets & Drainage Division at 706-613-3465

For flooding outside the right of way, your first contact should be the Transportation and Public Works / Stormwater Division at 706-613-3440 ext 350

For water quality issues regarding streams, creeks, etc. your first contact should be the Transportation and Public Works / Stormwater Division at 706-613-3440 ext 350

If you are unsure whether the drainage issue is inside or outside of the right of way, contact the Transportation and Public Works / Engineering Division at 706-613-3440 ext 350 and we will be able to properly direct your call.

No. Driveways and the drainage pipes under them are the property owners responsibility to maintain and clean. For questions about driveway and driveway pipe maintenance, call the Streets & Drainage Division at 706-613-3465.

In order to obtain a Driveway Permit, you must complete a permit application. This application must be accompanied by a scaled site plan and the $60.00 application fee. Please bring these to the Transportation & Public Works office, located at 120 West Dougherty Street (lower level). Typically the permit is reviewed and approved/disapproved during your visit. (Cash or check only)

In order to obtain a Right-of-Way encroachment permit, please fill out a permit application. Bring this application along with a drawing of how you plan to encroach in the Right-of-Way, and the $60.00 application fee. Your permit application will be looked at within 1-2 days, depending on the Permit Supervisor's schedule. Permit Application Form

Streetlights are leased by the Unified Government from the individual power providers and maintained by each power provider. Streetlight issues may be reported directly to the power provider or the Department of Transportation and Public Works. ** We are currently replacing many of the county's streetlights with LED bulbs.

To address concerns about the process or to request glare shields, follow the process below: Please have the following information ready when you call or email about a streetlight concern:

For flooding due to construction, your first contact should be the Transportation and Public Works Department / Engineering Division 706-613-3440 ext 350.

For flooding in the right of way, your first contact should be the Transportation and Public Works / Streets & Drainage Division at 706-613-3465

For flooding outside the right of way, your first contact should be the Transportation and Public Works / Stormwater Division at 706-613-3440 ext 350

For water quality issues regarding streams, creeks, etc. your first contact should be the Transportation and Public Works / Stormwater Division at 706-613-3440 ext 350

If you are unsure whether the drainage issue is inside or outside of the right of way, contact the Transportation and Public Works / Engineering Division at 706-613-3440 ext 350 and we will be able to properly direct your call.

A property owner can visit FEMA's website at www.msc.fema.gov with their address and get a good idea of where the floodplain lies. For more detailed information that will show the location of the floodplain with respect to their particular property, the property owner should visit the Planning Department's GIS office. For a nominal charge, a printout can be obtained if the property does lie in the floodplain, or they can simply verify that it does not.

Any time that you are working within the ACC right of way, if you need to work within the right of way fill out a permit application, submit a drawing of proposed work within the right of way as well as the $60.00 cash or check permitting fee.

A FEMA Elevation Certificate is a form available on FEMA's website that is used to certify building elevations in order to demonstrate compliance with the A-CC Flood Protection Ordinance. It is also used to determine the flood insurance premium rate, and/or to support a request to FEMA to remove a property from the regulated floodplain.

New construction or substantial improvement of an existing structure within or adjacent to the floodplain generally requires an Elevation Certificate. An initial certificate based on plans is required for the Building Permit, and another one, based on finished construction, is required for the Certificate of Occupancy. An Elevation Certificate is also needed whenever a property owner disputes the location of the floodplain on their property and wishes to request that FEMA remove their property from the floodplain.

A property owner must secure the services of a professional engineer, land surveyor, or architect licensed in Georgia in order to execute an Elevation Certificate.

A Stormwater Management Permit is needed for any land development that creates 10,000 square feet or more of impervious cover, or that replaces one acre or more of impervious cover, or that involves other land development activity of one acre or more.

The permit is obtained from the Transportation & Public Works Department and requires an application, fees, and a stormwater management plan prepared by a professional engineer or landscape architect licensed in Georgia. The plan must meet A-CC requirements, and must be reviewed and approved by the department prior to permit issuance. Permit Application

Call Athens-Clarke County Streets and Drainage Division at 706-613-3465 for potholes on a public street. We will issue a work order and go out and make the repair as soon as possible. If the pothole is on a privately owned street or parking lot, contact the property owner or property management company to have it repaired.

Yes, Athens-Clarke County does pick up dead animals in the street or on the right of way. If the animal is not in the street or on the right of way, it is the citizen's responsibility to remove it. For dead animals in the right of way in the Urban Service District (inside the former Athens City limits) contact the Solid Waste Department at 706-613-3501. For dead animals in the right of way in the Rural Service District (outside the former Athens City limits) contact the Streets & Drainage Division at 706-613-3465. Dead animals that are located on a State Highway in Athens-Clarke County will be picked up by the Georgia Department of Transportation, please contact them at 706-583-2644.

To report a tree blocking part or all of a street during normal working hours (Monday - Friday 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM excluding holidays), please call the Landscape Management Division at 706-613-3561. After hours please call the Athens-Clarke County Police Department at 706-546-5900.

No. Driveways and the drainage pipes under them are the property owners responsibility to maintain and clean. For questions about driveway and driveway pipe maintenance call the Streets & Drainage Division at 706-613-3465.

Traffic signals assign the right-of-way to various traffic movements within an intersection. Before installing a traffic signal at an intersection, established minimum warrants must be satisfied. Athens-Clarke County complies to the warrants set by The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), which is published by The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Traffic and pedestrian volumes, accident history, and/or unusual conditions must be satisfied or present at the intersection before a traffic signal may be considered. Once the signal is under consideration the installation must first be approved by The Mayor and Commission and funding be in place.

Unwarranted or inappropriately placed signals can:

* Increase overall travel times by adding stops and delay for through traffic. * Cause the diversion of traffic onto residential streets to avoid the signal. * Cause a significant increase in rear-end collisions.The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUT

Traffic signals don't always prevent crashes. In many instances, the total number of crashes and injuries increase after they're installed.Where signals are used unnecessarily, the most common results are a reduction in right-angle collisions but an increase in total crashes, especially the rear-end type collision. In addition, pedestrians are often lulled into a false sense of security.In deciding whether a traffic signal will benefit a particular location the following criteria will be evaluated:

• Does the number of vehicles on intersecting streets create confusion or congestion? • Is main street traffic so heavy that drivers on the side street will try to cross unsafely? • Are there enough pedestrians trying to cross a busy main street to create a hazard? • Does the number of school children crossing a street require special controls for their protection? • Will a signal allow for continuous, uniform traffic flow with a minimum number of vehicle stops? • Does an intersection's crash history indicate that a signal will reduce the possibility of a collision?

Our staff will compare the existing conditions against nationally accepted minimum standards established by The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) - Section 4C. At intersections where standards have been met, the signals generally operate effectively with good public compliance. Where not met, compliance is generally reduced resulting in additional hazards.While a properly placed traffic signal improves the flow and decreases crashes, an unnecessary one can be a source of danger and annoyance to all who use an intersection: pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.

Stop signs assign the right-of-way to various traffic movements within an intersection. Before installing a new stop sign at an intersection or converting a two-way stop into a multi-way stop, established minimum warrants must be satisfied. Athens-Clarke County complies to the warrants set by The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), which is published by The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Traffic and pedestrian volumes, accident history, and/or unusual conditions must be satisfied or present at the intersection before a stop sign may be considered. Once the stop sign is under consideration the installation must first be approved by The Mayor and Commission and funding be in place.

Unwarranted or inappropriately placed stop signs can:

* Increase traffic delay, speed and congestion with little or no gain in safety. In fact, safety is sometimes reduced. * Frustrate and anger motorists, who may divert to less suitable streets. * Reduce the credibility of stop signs and cause them to be ignored.

Although the physical installation of a stop sign is relatively inexpensive, studies have shown that there are "associated" costs involved which must also be considered:

* The sign must be maintained after installation. * Extra fuel is consumed when vehicles stop and then re-accelerate - 24 hours per day. * Extra fuel consumption also leads to increased air pollution. Stopping 5,000 vehicles per day generates 15 tons of additional pollutants per year.

A common reason for requesting an all-way stop is to encourage speeding drivers to slow down. It is important to note that Section 2B.04, Paragraph 05 of the MUTCD states: “YIELD or STOP signs should not be used for speed control.” Installation of an all-way stop intersection solely to slow traffic would constitute a violation of 23 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 655, Subpart F and will not be considered. The FHWA based this decision on a large volume of research, some of which is available online, which indicates that:

The reason is that many of the arterials in Athens-Clarke County are time coordinated. The goal of coordination is to get the greatest number of vehicles through the system with the fewest stops in a comfortable manner. Therefore, in traffic signal coordination the busiest traffic movements are given precedence over the smaller traffic movements. Once you have entered into the coordinated arterial you should notice more free flowing traffic and a reduction in delay. If you are waiting for a green light to cross the "coordinated" street where there is heavy traffic, you will probably feel like you are waiting for a very long time. In reality, most of ACC's traffic signals require a driver to wait less than 120 seconds and no more than 160 seconds. If you experience unusual timing at an intersection or have questions regarding the particular timing at an intersection, please contact Traffic Engineering at (706) 613-3460 or use one of the links to contact us by e-mail.

The objective of traffic signal timing is to alternate the right-of way between traffic in such a manner as to minimize average delay to all traffic while ensuring a safe operation.

The majority of traffic signals in ACC are designed to be either traffic responsive or part of a traffic signal system. Traffic responsive traffic signals are designed to adjust their patterns based on traffic demand. These systems work well, but are limited to locations where we can communicate with the traffic signals from our office. Typically, ACCTE will use traffic counts that have been taken at the intersection to model the traffic signal operation and determine the preset maximum time. Timing for traffic signals that are part of a traffic signal system is typically designed to progress groups of vehicles along a corridor. The department uses traffic modeling software along with traffic counts to determine appropriate traffic signal timings to progress these groups of vehicles along a corridor. Once timing has been programmed for the traffic signal, we will observe traffic flow and further adjust the traffic signal timing to accommodate site-specific issues as needed.

Call Traffic Engineering at (706) 613-3460 for the replacement of downed or missing signs. Providing information on the location of the sign, including the street block or intersection, side of street, color of sign and what the sign says, will allow us to respond more quickly.

Traffic Engineering has the authority to paint 10 feet on either side of a home owner’s driveway, 50 feet at an intersection, or 20 feet at a fire hydrant. Traffic Engineering will repaint existing yellowed curb by request if an ordinance exists. All others will need to be made through a formal request.

Athens-Clarke County does not install these signs. Studies have been done nation wide and show no evidence that these signs help reduce the number of pedestrian accidents or lower travel speeds. Furthermore, Federal standards do not support these signs because the signs are suggesting that it is acceptable behavior for children to play in the streets. The Federal Highway Administration has revised the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices to no longer include "Children at Play" signs which makes installation of such signs a violation of 23 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 655, Subpart F.

The school zone flashers are maintained by Athens Clarke County Traffic Engineering. Traffic Engineering confirms the beginning/ending times for each location from the Athens Clarke County school system. Athens Clarke County Police Department enforces the speed within the zones. Please report any malfunction problems to Traffic Engineering at 706-613-3460.

When a pedestrian pushes the button on the pole, a message is sent from the button to the computer that controls the traffic signal (the “controller”). The controller will see this request for a Walk light, and at the appropriate time, a Walk light will be provided. The button is like a light switch—after you have pushed it once, it is “on” and stays on until the Walk light appears. The standard time the Walk light is displayed is 5 to 7 seconds. When the Walk light comes up, you should begin to cross. Once the initial “Walk” time has passed, the “Flashing Don’t Walk” will appear—the flashing orange hand. This means that if you have not started to cross the road yet, you should not step off the curb. HOWEVER, if you are already in the process of crossing the road, the average pedestrian WILL have enough time to cross the entire road safely. Once the Flashing Don’t Walk time has passed, a solid “Don’t Walk” light will appear—the solid orange hand. Most intersections in Athens Clarke County are equipped with “countdown” pedestrian heads, which display for pedestrians the exact number of seconds remaining before the pedestrian needs to be clear of the intersection.

It is actually not possible for two conflicting movements of traffic to have green and/or yellow lights at the same time. There are a number of safety features that prevent this exact condition from occurring. Even if these features were to fail and the controller of the intersection were to try to have conflicting movements green at the same time, there is another piece of equipment called a “conflict monitor” that is designed specifically to detect and prevent this from occurring. If the conflict monitor “sees” a potential conflict, it puts the entire intersection into flashing operation, and the intersection will stay that way until a technician has been able to fix the problem.As everyone knows, a yellow light appears after a green light. When a particular movement goes from yellow to red, the entire intersection remains red for a selected amount of time before the next movement receives a green light. This also allows any vehicles that entered the intersection on a yellow (not red) light to safely clear the intersection before the next vehicles receive a green light to proceed. We appreciate any reports of damaged traffic signal equipment, since it is impossible to actively monitor each signalized intersection on a continuous basis. If you do know of any traffic signal indications that may be rotated or not showing an indication (LED burn out), please call Traffic Engineering at 706-613-3460.

It depends. Typically the signal will go “dark”. However, some of our existing traffic signals have a battery back-up system (Uninterruptible Power Supply – UPS) that can maintain either normal or flash operation of the traffic signal. Typically the UPS is capable of maintaining power for only a few hours. It is still crucial to remember that if the traffic signals do go “dark”, Georgia State Law §40-6-70 dictates that motorists shall treat the intersection as an all-way stop sign, unless an officer is directing traffic.

These signals are on a “fixed time” cycle (downtown signals for example). Another reason may be the vehicle detection on the main street or side street is malfunctioning so each phase of the signal is given time in the signal cycle.

Vehicle Detection Cameras– These cameras use video detection technology to detect when a vehicle is approaching a signalized intersection. These cameras are typically mounted on each approach to a signalized intersection and take the place of inductive “loops”.

Inductive “loops”- Are installed to detect vehicles approaching a signalized intersection. A” loop” is wire that is installed in a two inch deep slot that is cut into the asphalt in a rectangle shape which is 6 feet wide by 20 -30 feet long. This “loop” is placed just behind the white line referred to as a “stop bar”. When a vehicle is on top of the “loop” the traffic signal controller will see a change of electrical inductance due to the metal content of the vehicle. If a vehicle comes to a stop past the “stop bar” the traffic signal controller will “NOT” see the presence of a vehicle and the traffic signal will not change. Drivers should always place their vehicle just behind the “stop bar” for proper traffic signal operation.

• The video on these cameras is not recorded. • These cameras are not used for photo-enforcement of red-light running. • Video detection cameras will detect bicycles when stopped behind the STOPBAR (large white stripe located in each lane at every intersection for vehicle stop placement).

A Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) is a sales tax used to fund capital outlay projects proposed by the county government and municipal governments. A Transportation SPLOST (TSPLOST) is a sales tax where the outlays are intended for transportation purposes only.

SPLOST – Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax – 1% (up for renewal March or November 2019)

Based on legislation passed in the 2016 General Assembly, the law now allows for an additional sales tax for transportation. This tax will NOT affect any other local sales and use tax. (See O.C.G.A 48-8-269.991 and 48-8-269.997)

New legislation (O.C.G.A. 48-8-261) allows counties that are not in a “Special District” (jurisdictions that already have a MARTA tax) or that is not defined as a “metropolitan county special district” may impose for a limited period of time a transportation special purpose local option sales and use tax (TSPLOST), the proceeds of which shall be used only for transportation purposes.

The TSPLOST 2018 program was approved by Athens-Clarke County voters on November 7, 2017. Collection will actually begin on the first day of the calendar quarter following an 80-day period after the vote. Sales tax collection will begin in April 2018 as an additional sales tax on the current sales tax. The new TSPLOST sales tax will be 1%, making Athens-Clarke County's total sales tax 8%.

The max rate allowed for Athens-Clarke County is 1.0%. Since both cities of Winterville and Bogart agreed to participate in the program and an Intergovernmental Agreement was executed by the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County and with both cities, the November 2017 referendum is for a 1% sales tax. If both cities did not agree to participate, then the maximum rate allowed would have been 0.75%.

The collections for the TSPLOST 2018 program would cease on March 31, 2023. It should be noted out that projects do not have to be completed in the five-year window. The vast majority of projects should be complete, or be in the construction phase, during the five-year period.

Funds can only be spent on “transportation purposes”. (See O.S.G.A 48-8-260(5))

(5) “Transportation purposes” means and includes roads, bridges, public transit, rails, airports, buses, seaports, including without limitation road, street, and bridge purposes pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Code Section 48-8-121(see below), and all accompanying infrastructure and services necessary to provide accessto these transportation facilities, including new general obligation debt and other multiyear obligations issued to finance such purposes. Such purposes shall also include the retirement of previously incurred general obligation debt with respect only to such purposes, but only if an intergovernmental agreement has been entered intounder this article.

Code Section 48-8-121(b)(1)If the resolution or ordinance calling for the imposition of the tax specified that the proceeds of the tax are to be used in whole or in part for capital outlay projects consisting of road, street, and bridge purposes, then authorized uses of the tax proceeds shall include:(A) Acquisition of rights of way for roads, streets, bridges, sidewalks, and bicycle paths; (B) Construction of roads, streets, bridges, sidewalks, and bicycle paths;(C) Renovation and improvement of roads, streets, bridges, sidewalks, and bicycle paths, including resurfacing; (D) Relocation of utilities for roads, streets, bridges, sidewalks, and bicycle paths;(E) Improvement of surface-water drainage from roads, streets, bridges, sidewalks, and bicycle paths; and(F) Patching, leveling, milling, widening, shoulder preparation, culvert repair, and other repairs necessary for the preservation of roads, streets, bridges, sidewalks, and bicycle paths.(2) Storm-water capital outlay projects and drainage capital outlay projects may be funded pursuant to subparagraph (a)(1)(D) of Code Section 48-8-111 or in conjunction with road, street, and bridge capital outlay projects.

No. The code specifically states that the proceeds of this tax are not subject to any balancing of state or federal funds allocated to any of the local governments formulas used by GDOT. The Code also clearly states that the funds raised by TSPLOST shall in no way diminish the percentage of state or federal funds allocated to the Athens-Clarke County and COA. (See O.C.G.A 48-9-269.95 and O.C.G.A 48-8-269.9992)

Since the intergovernmental agreement is executed with Bogart and Winterville, thus allowing the maximum 1% tax, then a minimum of 30% of revenue generated must be used on projects consistent with the Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan (SSTP). The SSTP is a policy document and does not include an exhaustive list of projects. The SSTP outlines a series of statewide priorities and identifies several programs and/or plans which directly support those priorities.

A handful of key projects are identified in various places throughout the document to illustrate how a program or plan may ultimately result in implementation of a specific project. Because the SSTP identifies a broad range of supportive strategies and programs, many projects will be consistent with the SSTP. For example, projects that would be considered consistent include interchange projects, safety projects, and operational improvement projects. [see O.C.G.A 48-8-269.(c)920(D) and 269.995(b)(2)(D)]

Yes. Also published at www.accgov.com/tsplost, is the Athens-Clarke County TSPLOST - Program Goals, Project Selection Criteria, and Charge to the Citizens Advisory Committee that was approved by Mayor & Commission.

See O.C.G.A 48.8.262(b)(2)]Athens-Clarke County TSPLOST - It should be noted that the new code section does not describe what should be included in an Intergovernmental Agreement. (2) If an intergovernmental agreement authorized by paragraph (1) of this subsection is entered into, it shall, at a minimum, include the following:

(A) A list of the projects and purposes qualifying as transportation purposes proposed to be funded from the tax, including an expenditure of at least 30 percent of the estimated revenue from the tax on projects consistent with the state-wide strategic transportation plan as defined in paragraph (6) of subsection (a) of Code Section 32-2-22;

(B) The estimated or projected dollar amounts allocated for each transportation purpose from proceeds from the tax;

(C) The procedures for distributing proceeds from the tax to qualified municipalities;

(D) A schedule for distributing proceeds from the tax to qualified municipalities which shall include the priority or order in which transportation purposes will be fully or partially funded;

(E) A provision that all transportation purposes included in the agreement shall be funded from proceeds from the tax except as otherwise agreed;

(F) A provision that proceeds from the tax shall be maintained in separate accounts and utilized exclusively for the specified purposes;

(G) Record-keeping and audit procedures necessary to carry out the purposes of this part; and

(H) Such other provisions as the county and qualified municipalities choose to address.

Nearly all of funds will go to projects, including funds for Project Engineering and acquisition of Rights of Way. However, there will be money set aside for program management. Program management costs typically are in the range of 3%. Please note that the law does require that 1% be paid to the general fund of the state treasury in order to defray the cost of administration at the state treasury (See O.C.G.A 48-8-269.94 and 269.9991).

Yes, there are six items that are exempt from taxation on the law. (See O.C.G.A 48-8-269)

(1) The sale or use of any type of fuel used for off-road heavy-duty equipment, off-road farm or agricultural equipment, or locomotives;(2) The sale or use of jet fuel to or by a qualifying airline at a qualifying airport;(3) The sale or use of fuel that is used for propulsion of motor vehicles on the public highways;(4) The sale or use of energy used in the manufacturing or processing of tangible goods primarily for resale;(5) The sale or use of motor fuel as defined under paragraph (9) of Code Section 48-9-2 for public mass transit; or(6) The purchase or lease of any motor vehicle pursuant to Code Section 48-5C-1